Cusp Preservation: Definition & Technique
Question 1. CUSP.
Answer:
- It is an elevation or mound on the crown portion of a tooth making up a divisional part of the occlusal surface.
- It is an integral part of the occlusal surface.
- Generally, posterior teeth will have cusps.
- Different sets of teeth have different numbers of cusps.
- Example: Mandibular 1st permanent molar has 5 cusps.
- A small cusp, for example, cusps of clarabella present over permanent maxillary first molar is called caplet.
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Function:
- Shearing & tearing of food substances.

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Question 2. Ridge.
Answer:
- It is any linear elevation on the surface of a tooth. It is named according to its location.
1. Marginal ridge:
- They are rounded borders of the enamel forming mesial and distal margins of the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth and lingual surfaces of certain anterior teeth.
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2. Traingular ridge:
- It is a ridge descending from the cusp tip of the premolars and molars towards the central part of the occlusal surface.
3. Oblique ridge:
- It crosses the occlusal surfaces of maxillary molars obliquely.
- It is formed by the union of the triangular ridge of the distobuccal cusp and the distal cusp ridge of the mesiolingual cusp.
Cusp Preservation: Definition & Technique
4. Transverse ridge:
- It is formed by buccal and lingual triangular ridges.
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