Parastyle cusp: A rare morphologic variant of maxillary second molars

Abstract

Human jaws and teeth show a high diversity in the morphology, which varies from individual to individual. The variation in the morphologic feature is of great importance in the forensic field for identification. A tubercle or an accessory cusp is rare but is usually seen in the mandibular molar buccal aspect. From a forensic odontologist's point of view, the features though rare and unusual are useful for identification of the victim as well as criminal. The article presents three cases showing this rarest morphologic variation, i.e., the presence of a parastyle on a permanent maxillary second molar.