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Topic

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Central superior incisor tooth

The central superior incisor is the uppermost midline tooth of the maxillary dental arch, located on either side of the maxillary midline. It is single-rooted, with a conical crown, a prominent incisal edge, and a single pulp canal. The tooth plays a critical role in biting, incising food, phonetics, and aesthetics. Its crown is covered by enamel, the hardest tissue in the human body, while the underlying dentin surrounds the central pulp. The root is embedded in the alveolar process of the maxilla and is anchored by the periodontal ligament. The central superior incisors are typically symmetrical and serve as key landmarks in dental occlusion, orthodontic assessment, and craniofacial analysis.

Synonyms

  • Maxillary central incisor

  • Upper central incisor

  • Tooth #11 and #21 (FDI system)

  • Upper front tooth

Function

  • Primary role in incising and biting food

  • Supports speech articulation (especially labiodental and sibilant sounds)

  • Contributes to facial aesthetics and smile line

  • Serves as a key landmark in occlusion and orthodontic planning

MRI Appearance
T1-weighted images:

  • Tooth enamel appears very low signal (black) due to high mineral content

  • Dentin shows intermediate to low signal, while the pulp is hyperintense, containing soft tissue and blood vessels

  • Surrounding alveolar bone marrow is intermediate signal, contrasting with cortical bone (hypointense)

  • Pathological changes (e.g., pulpitis or abscess) appear as hyperintense areas within the pulp or periapical region

T2-weighted images:

  • Enamel remains signal void (black), dentin shows low-to-intermediate signal

  • Pulp exhibits high signal intensity, aiding visualization of pulp chamber morphology

  • Fluid collections, edema, or cystic lesions appear bright hyperintense, highlighting pathology

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Suppresses surrounding fat signal in the alveolar bone

  • Normal pulp and tooth structures remain low-to-intermediate signal

  • Inflammation, periapical edema, or abscess appear hyperintense, enhancing detection of early pathology

CT Appearance

  • Enamel and cortical bone appear hyperdense (bright white), with clear delineation of crown, root, and alveolar socket

  • Dentin appears slightly less dense than enamel, with pulp chamber hypodense (dark)

  • Surrounding alveolar bone shows intermediate density, while air in the oral cavity is hypodense (black), providing natural contrast

  • CT is ideal for evaluating fractures, dental caries, periapical lesions, root morphology, and orthodontic planning

MRI images

Central superior incisor tooth mri axial image -img-00000-00000

MRI images

Central superior incisor tooth mri sag image -img-00000-00000