Dentition and Oral Classification of Animals - Dentition and Dental Classification of Animals

The morphology and the dental formula (see Table: Oral Formulas of Different Animal Types) of mammalian teeth vary and closely associated to the animal’s alimentation.Each tooth has a crown above the gum line and one to several roots listed below the gum line. Oral pulp, which contains nerves, blood and lymphatic vessels, connective tissue, and odontoblasts, inhabits the main portion of the tooth (pulp cavity). The pulp cavity is surrounded by dentin, a hard however permeable material. Enamel, a hard, mineralized formed by ameloblasts prior to tooth eruption, coats the coronal portion of the tooth. Cementum, bone-like mineralized connective tissue formed by cementoblasts, is over the root. Gingiva covers the root and the base of the crown. The major connective tissue attachment of the tooth, the gum ligament, anchors the roots to the alveolar bone and holds the tooth in its alveolus (socket).

The majority of mammals are diphyodont (ie, having 2 generations of teeth: an initial deciduous set of teeth been successful by an irreversible set of teeth). Elephants, kangaroos, and manatees are polyphyodont, having succeeding generations of teeth that are continually replaced throughout life.

Teeth can be particularly recognized utilizing structural classification by their set (deciduous or irreversible), side (left or right), arch (maxillary or mandibular), class (incisor, dog, premolar, and molar), and regular structural position in the mouth from mesial to distal (very first, second, 3rd, or fourth). A complete description allows particular identification of and communication about a specific tooth, as in deciduous left maxillary 3rd premolar (notationally abbreviated dLMaxP3) or long-term right mandibular dog (notationally shortened RMandC). Variations do occur, with additional teeth designated as supernumerary, as in supernumerary ideal maxillary second premolar (notationally abbreviated sRMaxP2).

A typical dental notation system popular in scientific practice is the modified Triadan system, which appoints a 3-digit number to a particular tooth. The hundreds put digit represents the quadrant, and the subsequent digits recognize the particular tooth number. In a clockwise instructions (looking onto the animal), the ideal maxillary quadrant is identified “100,” the left maxillary quadrant “200,” the left mandibular quadrant “300,” and the ideal mandibular quadrant “400.” When referring to the deciduous dentition, these respective quadrants are numbered 500– 800. Each tooth is offered a 2-digit number according to its position from midline, with the central incisor being 01, the canine tooth 04, and the first molar 09. For example, in horses, the left lower 2nd premolar is tooth 306, and the last molar on the ideal mandible is tooth 411. Missing teeth are avoided in the numbering series. For instance, in felines, the tooth distal to the maxillary canine is– phylogenetically, developmentally, and anatomically speaking– the second premolar (106 or 206), whereas the very first premolar has been lost during evolutionary history (ie, there is no 105 or 205).

Dentition, pet dog

Picture of a pet skull with the left maxillary and mandibular permanent teeth numbered according to the customized Triadan system. Pet dogs have 42 long-term teeth (12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars, and 10 molars). The incisors (101– 103, 201– 203, 301– 303, 401– 403) and canine teeth (104, 204, 304, 404) are single rooted. In the maxillary arch, the first premolars (105, 205) have 1 root, the 2nd and 3rd premolars (106, 107, 206, 207) have 2 roots, and the 4th premolars (108, 208) and very first and 2nd molars (109, 110, 209, 210) have 3 roots. In the mandibular arch, the first premolars (305, 405) have 1 root; the second, third, and fourth premolars (306– 308, 406– 408) and the very first and 2nd molars (309, 310, 409, 410) have 2 roots; and the 3rd molars (311, 411) have 1 root … learn more

Thanks to Dr. Maria Soltero-Rivera

Dentition, horse

Schematic of the dentition of a horse (Equus caballus). Illustrated are the physiological features of particular teeth, in addition to the variations observed on the occlusal surface areas of the different types of teeth and as a function of age … read more

Illustration by Dr. Gheorghe Constantinescu.Dentition, donkey Pictures of a donkey

skull with the maxillary and mandibular permanent teeth numbered according to the customized Triadan system … learn more Thanks to the Archaeozoological Recommendation Collection of the Institute of Topographic Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medication, Vienna.Dentition, small ruminants Schematic of the dentition of a little

ruminant. Illustrated are the

structural functions of particular teeth, along with the variations observed on the occlusal surface areas of the different types of teeth and as a function of age … read more Illustration by Dr. Gheorghe Constantinescu.Dentition, pig Schematic

of the dentition

of a pig( Sus scrofa domesticus), including the anatomic functions of specific teeth. Illustration by Dr. Gheorghe Constantinescu.For More Information Find out about the veterinary subject of Dentition and Oral Classification of Animals.

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