Vom Löwenherzig Rottweilers ~ Home of Maik von der Frankentanne and other quality Rottweilers
by Margo B. Maloney, DVM
The teeth are highly specialized structures which serve as
weapons of offense and defense, as well as for the
procuring, cutting, and crushing of food. Each tooth is
divided into 3 parts: the crown is the exposed part which
protrudes above the gumline; the neck which is the slightly
constricted area just at the level of the gum; and the root
which is usually embedded in sockets in the jawbone.

The teeth are arranged as upper and lower dental arches.
Many teeth are so placed in the jaw that they fail to meet
or else overlap or protrude between adjacent teeth laying
opposite to them. The function of these non-occlusal or
imperfectly occluding teeth is to grasp, puncture, or shear
things like food or foe. In dogs, food is bolted rather than
chewed, and a complete occlusal surface is not necessary.

The surface of the tooth which faces the lip or cheek is
called the vestibular surface, formerly called the buccal
surface. The surface which faces the tongue is called the
lingual surface. The surface adjacent to the next tooth is
called the contact surface. The tooth surface that faces the
opposing tooth is the opposite dental arch is called the
masticatory or occlusal surface.

The incisor teeth are the 6 small teeth located at the center
of each dental arch. Next are the canine or “fang” teeth. All
the teeth behind the canine teeth are referred to as cheek
teeth. In the permanent dentition, there are 4 premolars on
each side in each jaw. The upper fourth premolars are the
largest cutting teeth of the upper jaw. They are referred to
as carnasial teeth or “shearing” teeth. Finally, the molars are
the large grinding teeth in the back of the mouth.

When examining a dog’s dentition, be sure to clear the lips
and cheek tissue clearly from the mouth or the teeth may
be miscounted or misidentified. Be sure the dog is not
nervous and setting its teeth in an abnormal position due to
tenseness. Try to “soften” the jaw by relaxing the dog’s
head and neck position. Tooth placement is affected by
genetics, jaw structure, lip structure, the tongue, other
teeth - deciduous (“baby teeth”) and/or permanent, as well
as the habits of the dog such as carrying a training dummy,
chewing on kennel fencing or crate wire, or continual rock
fetching.

When evaluating dog’s teeth, we need to look at the
relationship of all the teeth to each other and the jaw.
Ethical breeders do care about dentition and require
knowledge about the whole mouth - not just the incisors. It
is very easy to just count the number of teeth or evaluate
the “bite” of the incisors, but it is only when we look at the
overall picture that we can see how genetics is affecting the
dentition. The breeder needs to know the number of
teeth; the type of bite or how the incisors meet; the
relationship of the canine teeth, the premolars, the molars,
and the jaw curvature. If there are any genetic
inconsistencies, this should be taken into consideration in
the breeding program.
Diagram 1: normal incisor occlusion

Diagram 2: side view of normal incisor occlusion

Diagram 3: normal premolar tooth relationship

Diagram 4: horizontal lines illustrate normal occlusal
plane of upper and lower arches
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Diagram 5: anterior crossbite

Diagram 6: base narrow teeth
Diagram 7: overshot bite; incisors and canines

Diagram 8: overshot bite; premolars and molars

Diagram 9: undershot bite; premolars
A very good reference source is the 1992 publication of Veterinary Dental Techniques by Drs. Holstrom, Frost,
and Gammon. This book was released by W.B. Saunders Company and discusses how the understanding of
the different types of occlusions can be “scored” to total up an estimate of genetic heritability.

Here is a step-by-step method of evaluating the teeth as described in the above publication (page 340):

Step 1
Observe the symmetry of the head, face, and teeth.

Step 2
Count the teeth. The teeth are divided into 4 quadrants Upper and lower left; Upper and lower right. There
are 3 upper left incisors; 1 upper left canine; 4 upper left premolars; 2 upper left molars. It is the same for the
upper right teeth. There are 3 lower left incisors; 1 lower left canine; 4 lower left premolars; 3 lower left
molars. It is the same for the lower right teeth. Total teeth in an adult canine should be 42.

Step 3
Evaluate the incisors. The normal incisor occlusion has the large cusp ( a pointed or rounded protuberance
making up a divisional part of the chewing surface of a tooth) of the lower incisors occluding near the
cingulum (the lingual lobe of an anterior tooth; lingual refers to the surface of the tooth facing the tongue)
on the lingual side of the upper incisors. The large cusps of the central incisors should be centered with each
other. The second and third incisors lose their centered orientation and the large cusp of the third incisor
should be in the interproximal space (space between adjoining teeth) between the second and third maxillary
incisors (maxillary refers to the upper jaw). All the incisors should be in an evenly curved line with no rotation.
Rotation would mean that the tooth is not seated properly on the jaw bone. The axis of the tooth should be
parallel to the jaw.

Step 4
Observe the relationship of the canine teeth. The mandibular canine or “fang” tooth should occlude buccal
(toward the cheek tissue) to the gingiva of the maxilla and should divide the space between the maxillary
canine tooth and the maxillary third incisor. This is the most reliable reference point in the mouth.

Step 5
Observe the relationship of the premolars. The large cusp on the lower fourth premolar should divide the
space between the upper third and fourth premolars.

Step 6
Observe the occlusal plane of the upper and lower arches. The occlusal surface is the surface of the tooth
that faces the opposite dental arches’ chewing surface. The premolars should interdigitate from the second
premolars back to the cusps of the upper fourth premolar with overlapping of the cusp tips. The molars should
occlude to allow the cusps to function in crushing. The premolars and molars should be aligned mesial (toward
the center line of the dental arch) to distal ( position on the dental arch farther from the median line of the
jaw) in a slightly curved line with none of the teeth rotated.

After evaluating the teeth and their relationship to the jaw, the dentition can be categorized into the
following types of occlusions. The normal occlusion is a “scissor bite.” This is the pattern in which the lower
incisors occlude next to the cingulum (lingual lobe of an anterior tooth) on the lingual surface of the upper
incisors.

Dogs with a Class 1 occlusion have a normal occlusion with one or more teeth out of alignment or rotated.
The following bites are Class 1: 1) the anterior crossbite where one or more of the lower incisors are anterior
(situated in front of) to the upper incisors and the rest of the teeth occlude normally; 2) the level bite where
the upper and lower incisors occlude cusp to cusp (“butt bite”); and 3) the base narrow bite where the tips
of the mandibular canine teeth are displaced lingually (toward the tongue) and occlude on the hard palate.

Dogs with a Class 2 occlusion have the lower premolars and molars positioned behind the normal relationship.
This occlusion may also be termed brachygnathism, overshot, “parrot mouth,” retrusive mandible, or distal
mandibular excursion.

Dogs with a Class 3 occlusion have the lower premolars and molars positioned ahead (anterior) of the normal
relationship. This occlusion may also be termed prognathism; undershot; “Bulldog bite”; protrusive mandible; or
mesial mandibular excursion.

An unclassified bite is the “wry bite.” An abnormal occlusion caused by a difference in length of the two
maxillae (upper jaw bones) and the mandibles (lower jaw bones). The abnormal occlusion results in a variety of
different jaw relationships as one side of the jaw grows faster than the other and distorts or “twists” the
mouth giving it a “wry” appearance. This condition is quite a handicap and leads to difficulty in grasping and
chewing food as well as retrieving game.

It is only when we as dog handlers, breeders, and/or judges evaluate the dog’s entire mouth that we can
effectively understand how genetics and the environment are affecting the dog’s dentition. Each dog should
have a good oral exam to determine any health concerns or breeding considerations.

Versatile Hunting Dog Magazine, December 2001
(Illustrations reprinted from Veterinary Dental Techniques; Steven Holmstrom DVM, Patricia Frost DVM, Ronald Gammon DVM; W.B.
Saunders Company, 1992.)  
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