Dental Formula - Dog

The Dog

Dental Formula

2 (I3/3 C1/1 P3/3) Deciduous

2 (I3/3 C1/1 P4/4 M2/3) Permanent

• Toothless at birth

• Deciduous teeth complete and functional within 2 months of birth

• Permanent teeth complete and funtional by the end of the 6th or 7th month

Canines

• Large, curved, laterally compressed

• Root longer than crown

• Single root

Dog Dentition - Copyright Nottingham 2008

Molars

• Broader than premolars

• Number of cusps similar in all breeds- usually two or three

Incisors

• Tricupsid in upper jaw

• Bicusped in lower jaw

• Smaller rostrally

• Single root

Premolars

• Irregular, closely-spaced

• More complex and larger caudally

• Discontinuous cutting edge on crowns

Breed Differences

• Eruption times differ between breeds so difficult to age dogs by teeth

• Brachiocephalic dogs do not possess all cheek teeth, have fused roots and have carnasial teeth (upper P4 and lower M1)