Ever wonder if your dog’s dental structure is the same as humans? If you are a dog owner, it’s important to understand the dog teeth anatomy. This is because their dental health plays a vital role in securing their overall dental health.
A lot of dog diseases are linked with teeth problems. Oftentimes, the signs and symptoms of these diseases can be found through their teeth. If left neglected, tooth extraction could follow.
Puppy Teeth Eruption
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uppies are generally toothless when they are born. Their milk teeth, also known as deciduous teeth will start to emerge on their 3rd to 4th week of age. When they reach their 5th month, they will typically have a total of 28 puppy teeth. The puppy teeth consist of incisors, premolars, and canine teeth.
Incisors and premolars are the teeth that they use for grasping. Canine teeth, on the other hand, are used for tearing. Yes, that is the teeth they use to chew on your most precious shoes.
In some cases, the puppy teeth do not fall out voluntarily. This is the common cause of overcrowding since the adult teeth and milk teeth are growing in one place.
Adult Dog Teeth Types
Your dog’s puppy teeth should have all fallen out at their 7th month. At this period, their permanent teeth will start to emerge. Adult dogs are expected to have 42 teeth in their mouth.
Your dog’s upper jaw, which is called the maxilla will have a total of 20 teeth, while their lower jaw or the mandible will have 22 teeth.
Adult Dog Teeth Anatomy
Overall, your dog will have 12 incisors, 4 canine teeth, 16 premolars, and 10 molars. Each type of teeth in your dog’s dental anatomy has certain functions. To fully understand how they work, let us discuss them one by one.
Incisors. The teeth that you find in front of your dog’s mouth are whats called incisors. The top and bottom jaw have 6 incisors each. These teeth are what they use for grabbing, grooming, and chewing. Incisors are commonly small in size and each tooth is supported by separate roots.
Canine teeth. These teeth are the longest kind of teeth that dogs have. Canine teeth are fang-like in shape and are located on each side of the 6 incisors. The use of these teeth is mainly for gripping objects. Like incisors, canine teeth have their own root.
Premolars. Premolars can be found just behind the canine teeth. These are used for chewing and pounding foods. Depending on your dog’s dental condition, their premolar teeth can have 1 or 2 roots each.
Molars. Lastly, the molars. Molars are located at the back portion of their jaw. Molars are also used for grinding food into smaller pieces for faster digestion. They can have up to 3 roots per tooth.
Do dogs lose teeth? Just like humans, it’s not normal to lose teeth in dogs as well. If you notice that your dog is losing teeth, it could be a sign of periodontal disease, injuries, or weak gums. Call their veterinarian right away to prevent further damage to the healthy teeth.
It’s also important to provide the utmost care for your dog’s teeth. They also need to have their own oral care regimen to prevent gum diseases and infection. Additionally, regular vet visits are highly recommended as well. Same with us humans too, it is very important to do dental visits or checking RiverlandsDental.com.au website might help too to follow more dental advice to maintain our dental health.
