Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2026

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
A four-rooted primary upper second molar
1Department of Orthodontics, King's College Hospital Dental School, London, UK.
Abstract:
Both primary upper second molars were extracted from a young male patient. The left had a normal root pattern but the right had four well-defined roots. The accessory root appeared to be the mesiopalatal which had a distinctly rounded cross-sectional profile. The other roots had the typical form characteristic of primary molar roots. Some degree of bifurcation can occur in the mesiobuccal roots of upper molars and the accessory root described in this report may represent an extreme example of such bifurcation.
Related Concept Videos
Basic Plant Anatomy: Roots, Stems, and Leaves
Primary and Secondary Growth in Roots and Shoots
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Radicals

