The maxillary central incisor, the same as the mandibular central incisor, is the closest tooth to the midline of the jaw. A newly erupted maxillary central incisor contains three bumps called mamelons. These bumps are named the mesial, central, and distal mamelons. They can be found on the incisal edge that is located centrally to the root when looking from the mesial or distal surfaces. But mamelons disappear in a few weeks after the tooth has appeared as they wear off. In older individuals, the presence of the mamelons can be a sign either of malocclusion or an anterior open bite.

This tooth presents with a more rounded distoincisal angle than the mesioincisal angle, and the maxillary central incisor is a bit larger mesiodistally than it is labiolingually. It has a slightly flat mesial surface, which tapers from the height of contour towards the cervical line and is almost continuous with the root. The outline of the distal surface is more rounded and, in contrast, is not continuous with the root. At the cervical area, it results in a concavity or notch.

The labial surface - approximately in the incisal third - contains two developmental grooves known as the mesial developmental groove and the distal developmental groove. Both of them improve the aesthetical look of the tooth, and at the same time, both separate three lobes of the maxillary central incisor - mesial, central, and distal lobes.

The palatal surface at the cervical area contains a cingulum, which is slightly displaced to the distal surface. The rest of the palatal surface is concave. From the cingulum towards the incisal edge go two ridges. These ridges are known as the marginal ridges and depending on which surface (mesial or distal) is located closer to them, they are named the mesial and distal marginal ridges. The mesial marginal ridge is slightly longer than the distal.

Each tooth also presents a lingual fossa, defined by the margins of the cingulum, marginal ridges, and incisal edge.

The cervical line on the distal surface is less curved towards the incisal edge than it is on the mesial surface.

The height of the contour of the maxillary central incisor is as follows:

• Mesial - incisal third;
• Distal - between incisal and middle third;
• Facial (labial) - cervical third;
• Palatal - closer to the cervical line.

The facial contour that is shaped by the mesiobuccal and distobuccal line angles has a lot of influence on the aesthetics of these teeth.

The root of this tooth is distinctly triangular, and it has a wide and flat labial surface, while the palatal surface is narrow. The apex of the root is rounded, and the root, in general, is straight.