Dental Anatomy
DENTAL ANATOMY
by Jan Bellows, D.V.M.
Diplomate, American Veterinary Dental College
9111 Taft Street Pembroke Pines, Florida
954-432-1111
ANATOMY
There are four types of teeth in small animals: incisor, canine, premolar,
and molar. Nature designed each to serve a special function. Incisors are
named first, second and third; or central, intermediate, and lateral based
on their location in the mouth. There should be six incisors in the maxilla
(upper jaw) and six in the mandible (lower jaw). Incisor teeth are used for
shearing and grooming. There are two large canine teeth located in the
mandible and two in the maxilla. The canines are designed to grasp and tear
with great pressure. Premolar teeth have sharp edges used for shearing. In
the dog, there are four premolar teeth on either side of the upper and lower
jaws. Dogs have four molars in the upper jaw and six in the lower. Molars
have a flat surface used for grinding.
The cat has three premolars on each side of the upper jaw identified as
second, third, and fourth; and two lower premolars on each side of the
lower jaw, called third and fourth . Cats have one upper and lower molar on
each side.
The primary or deciduous incisors erupt at one to three weeks of age while
the primary canines erupt at three to four weeks. The remaining temporary
premolars and molars should emerge by ten weeks. The first premolar and all
the molars erupt only as adult teeth. The remaining premolars, canines, and
incisors appear in the oral cavity first as primary ( temporary, deciduous,
or baby ) teeth. Secondary (adult) teeth usually appear at four months.
Adult incisors appear first followed by canines, premolars, and molars. The
complete adult dentition should be present in most breeds by eight months of
age.
A tooth is composed of a portion above the gum line called crown and a
section below the gum line called the root. Enamel, the hardest mineralized
tissue found in the body covers the crown. Cementum which is attached to the
periodontal ligament, covers the root. Dentin, softer than enamel makes up
the bulk of the tooth. Inside, the pulp is composed of live tissue, that
contains nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics.