The occlusal surface of the second mandibular premolar can vary depending on the number of cusps these teeth have.

If the second mandibular premolar presents with three cusps, its occlusal surface looks Y-shaped because of the grooves located between them.
If this tooth contains only two cusps, its occlusal surface can look either U-shaped or H-shaped.

If the second mandibular premolar has three cusps, its occlusal surface looks similar to the maxillary premolar.

This tooth has three pits - mesial, distal and central. All pits serve as the apexes of the mesial, distal and central fossae. It also presents with the mesial triangular fossa and distal triangular fossa.

The second mandibular premolar has the following major grooves on its occlusal surface:

All grooves meet in the central pit. The mesiolingual and distolingual cusps are separated by the lingual groove. From the distal pit towards the buccal cusp goes the distobuccal groove, while from the mesial pit towards the buccal cusp extends the mesiobuccal groove.

Overall, the second mandibular premolar has several distinguishing features: tip on the buccal surface, rounded outline and shorter buccolingual length.

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Second mandibular premolar (part 3)