A dog's tooth formula lists the number and type of teeth in the upper and lower jaws of an adult dog. Like humans, dogs have a set of baby teeth (also known as deciduous teeth) that are replaced by permanent teeth as they age.
Baby teeth
Puppies are born without teeth, but usually start getting their milk teeth around the third to fourth week. A full milk teeth consists of 28 teeth and the tooth formula for milk teeth is as follows:
2 x (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3) = 28
Here, the letters represent the different types of teeth:
I: Incisors (incisors)
C: Canines (canines)
P: Premolars (front molars)
The numbers above the break line represent the number of teeth in the upper jaw and the numbers below it represent the number in the lower jaw. So, for the baby teeth, a dog has 3 incisors, 1 canine and 3 premolars on each side of the jaw.
Permanent teeth in dogs
When the dog is about six months old, the baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth. An adult dog has a total of 42 permanent teeth, with the following tooth formula:
2 x (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3) = 42
With permanent teeth, a dog has 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars and 2 molars on each side of the upper jaw. On each side of the lower jaw, there are 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars and 3 molars.
Why is a dental formula important?
The dental formula helps vets and owners properly understand and control a dog's teeth. Healthy teeth are crucial to a dog's overall health, as dental problems can lead to pain, infections and problems eating.
Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene, such as brushing teeth and providing appropriate chew toys, are essential to prevent dental disease.
Dental problems
Common dental problems in dogs include plaque, tartar, gingivitis (gum disease) and periodontitis (advanced gum disease). Early detection and treatment of these problems can prevent serious complications.
In addition, it is important to be aware of the teething process in puppies and address any problems such as permanent baby teeth in a timely manner.
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