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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Canine

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈkeɪnaɪn/nounCore term

In dentistry, canine means: The long, pointed tooth at each corner of the dental arch, between the lateral incisor and the first premolar. Upper canines have the longest roots of all the teeth.

In Turkish: köpek dişi, kanin

How it is used

Patients may call the upper canine an eye tooth, and some texts use cuspid. Upper canines are often impacted in the palate, and canine guidance is an important idea in occlusion.

Example sentences

  1. The upper right canine is impacted in the palate.

  2. Her canines are quite pointed, so she'd like them reshaped slightly.

Common collocations

  • upper canine
  • impacted canine
  • canine guidance
  • primary canine
  • incisorOne of the eight thin, flat-edged teeth at the front of the mouth, four upper and four lower, used for biting into food.
  • premolarOne of the teeth between the canines and the molars, usually with two points (cusps) on the biting surface. Adults normally have eight, while children's first teeth include none.
  • impactedDescribes a tooth that cannot come through into its normal position because bone, gum or another tooth is in the way. Wisdom teeth and upper canines are most often affected.
  • occlusionThe way the upper and lower teeth fit together when the jaws close, and how they touch during chewing and other jaw movements.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.