Facial: From this aspect, the tooth somewhat resembles the first, but the buccal cusp is less pronounced. The tooth is larger than the first.
Lingual: Two significant variations are seen in this view. The most common is the three-cusp form, which has two lingual cusps. The mesial of those is the larger of the two. The other form is the two-cusp form with a single lingual cusp. In that variant, the lingual cusp tip is shifted to the mesial.
Proximal: The buccal cusp is shorter than the first. The lingual cusp (or cusps) are much better developed than the first, and give the lingual a full, well-developed profile.
Occlusal: The two or three cusp versions become clearly evident. In the three-cusp version, the developmental grooves present a distinctive 'Y' shape and have a central pit. In the two cusp version, a single developmental groove crosses the transverse ridge from mesial to distal. (Review: the lower second premolar is larger than the first, while the upper first premolar is just slightly larger than the upper second).
Contact Points and Height of Curvature: From the facial, the mesial contact is more occlusal than the distal contact. Why? The distal marginal ridge is lower than the mesial marginal ridge.
Right and Left: In the two-cusp version, the lingual cusp tip is shifted mesially. In the three- cusp version, the larger of the two lingual cusps is to the mesial.
Root: The mandibular second premolar has a single root that is usually larger than the first premolar.
Variation: There may be one or two lingual cusps. This tooth is sometimes missing; only the third molars and upper lateral incisors are missing more frequently than this tooth.
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