Things you need to know about dog teeth

In this article we will know about dog teeth.

How many teeth do dogs have?

Adult dogs have 42 teeth (20 on the upper jaw and 22 on the lower jaw), and puppies have 28 teeth (14 on the upper jaw and 14 on the lower jaw).

The front teeth are called incisors, and there are a total of 12 teeth, 6 above and below. It is used to scrape prey meat from bones and pick up things.

• Canines: Sharp teeth, such as fangs, that can injure prey. There are 4 in total, 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom.
• Anterior molars: Eight upper and lower teeth behind the canines. Used when chewing food
• Posterior molars: The teeth behind the anterior molars, 4 in the upper jaw and 6 in the lower jaw, for a total of 10 teeth. Used to chew food and grind plants like a mortar.

When do milk teeth begin to grow and regenerate?

Milk teeth begin to grow around the age of 3 weeks and grow around the age of 8 weeks. The re-growth to permanent teeth starts around 4 months of age and changes to permanent teeth around 7 to 8 months of age. When the permanent teeth are aligned, the deciduous teeth remain, which is called deciduous teeth, and is often seen in small dogs. Treatments such as tooth extraction may be recommended if the remaining teeth affect the growth of permanent teeth or cause other dental problems.

How strong is the dog’s bite?

According to Stanley Coren’s blog, there is a study that measured Mastiff’s quotient force at 552 PSI (pounds per square inch). By the way, the average dog bite force is 250-325 PSI, and the average human bite force is about 120-220 PSI. The strongest quotient animal is the killer whale, which has a force of 19,000 PSI, which is not so strong in the natural world as a whole.

A 2009 study showed that the larger the head and the wider the jaw, the higher the occlusal force .

Is it true that dogs don’t get cavities?

Unfortunately, dogs also have cavities, but they are less common. Compared to humans, the diet has less sugar, the difference in bacteria in the oral cavity, the fact that the mouth is alkaline, and the shape of the teeth make it less likely to cause tooth decay. However, in modern dogs that have come to eat foods containing sugar, bacteria may propagate and form tooth decay due to the adhesion of food residue.

Caries treatment is almost the same as human treatment. The damaged area is scraped off and filled with filler to repair it. If the caries has progressed to the pulp, treatments such as pulp removal and tooth extraction are selected.

Is it true that you can estimate your age from your teeth?

In young dogs, it is possible to estimate their approximate age by observing which teeth are protruding. For example, puppy incisors typically grow at 4-6 weeks of age and turn into permanent teeth at 12-16 weeks. Canine deciduous teeth begin to grow in 3 to 5 weeks and turn into permanent teeth in 12 to 16 weeks. Also, it is about 7 to 8 months old that all teeth are completely transformed into permanent teeth.

Estimating age from teeth is not so easy after they have been transformed into permanent teeth. There is also a method of measuring the amount of tooth wear, but the result depends greatly on the living environment. If a 3-year-old dog spends his life in the field, he may have lost his teeth instead of wearing it.

Will permanent teeth grow again?

Like humans, dogs cannot grow lost or damaged teeth again. So dog teeth need to be as well cared for as human teeth.

Animals whose teeth regenerate many times in their lives include sharks, elephants, horses, and pigs. Even if the shark’s teeth fall out when taking prey, the reserve teeth will come out in front and fill the vacant space. Some species are said to grow in a row in 10 days.

Is there a difference between large and small dogs and tooth problems?

Large dogs have problems because they are big, and small dogs also have problems because they are small.

Small dogs tend to have dental problems related to this because they often have poor alignment of teeth or a condition called malocclusion, and plaque and tartar tend to accumulate (especially for brachycephalic breeds).  In addition, the above-mentioned deciduous teeth are found in relatively small dogs.

Large dogs tend to chew aggressively, so they often have problems with tooth breakage and wear, trauma problems, and inflammation caused by these.

 How to Trace Dog mouth troubles

・ How do you find a dog’s mouth trouble?

If your dog’s mouth or breath smells like it’s turning away, there’s a danger signal. It doesn’t have to have a rose scent, but if it doesn’t smell like it’s close to each other, it’s safe to assume that something is wrong.
If you can lift your lips, flip over. Check your teeth for dirt (tartar and plaque), swelling and redness of the gums, and bleeding. All signs indicate oral problems.

・ Does the dog have cancer of the mouth?

Unfortunately, the incidence of oral tumours (cancer) is relatively high, and it is said that 60 to 70% of the species that develop are malignant. Many malignant tumours such as malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibrosarcoma have been reported, and the quality of life is greatly reduced due to facial deformity, eating disorders, and respiratory disorders. If you see any lumps, swelling, or tissue discoloration on your dog’s gums or inside the cheeks, check them immediately.

・ Why do you need general anaesthesia for dental treatment?

With general anaesthesia, the dog will not move around, so both the dog and the veterinarian can ensure their safety and perform the necessary dental treatment. Not moving around has advantages even at the inspection stage. You can inspect the back teeth and the lingual surface, and you can take better X-rays.
Of course, it has the advantages of eliminating the stress and pain associated with treatment and protecting the airways and lungs from aspiration.

Anaesthesia is always risky, but most hospitals have recently developed drugs and equipment and carefully monitor them. It’s not 100% safe, but the risk is infinitely small .