The
maxillary lateral incisors are a pair of upper (
maxillary)
teeth that are located laterally (away from the midline of the
face) from both
maxillary central incisors of the
mouth and mesially (toward the midline of the face) from both
maxillary canines. As with all
incisors, their function is for
shearing or cutting food during
mastication, commonly known as chewing. There are generally no
cusps on the teeth, but the rare condition known as
talon cusps are most prevalent on the maxillary lateral incisors. The surface area of the tooth used in eating is called an incisal ridge or incisal edge. Though relatively the same, there are some minor differences between the
deciduous (baby) maxillary lateral incisor and that of the
permanent maxillary lateral incisor. The maxillary lateral incisors
occlude in opposition to the
mandibular lateral incisors.