Too many teeth might make eating difficult! Although it may be uncommon, your dog developing more teeth is a possibility. What you need to know if it applies to your dogs is listed below Supernumerary Teeth .
Super-what?
Yes, superfluous. Look it up; it’s an actual word.
No, please don’t—we’re glad to inform you. It basically looks like your dog has additional teeth.
You might not be aware of this, but your dog has almost one-third more teeth in his mouth than you have. He has more teeth, too, and they’re bigger and sharper. Like people, dogs also go through the process of developing and losing baby teeth before their permanent teeth erupt.
The majority of dogs have their permanent teeth by the time they are four months old. Despite the fact that dogs typically have 42 permanent teeth in total, supernumerary teeth, or additional teeth, can occasionally develop in some dogs.
Related Article: Why Are Small-Breed Dogs More Prone to Tooth Loss?
The medical disease, known as hyperdontia, is referred to as supernumerary teeth or additional teeth by your veterinarian or a veterinary dentistry professional. It occurs when teeth or other odontogenic (other tooth/gum growth process) structures grow more fully than they need to.
They either originate from a split conventional tooth bud or a cleaved tooth bud. Your dog may have extra or excessively many teeth at times due to inheritance.
It’s an uncommon occurrence, and it’s even less common in infant (deciduous) teeth. In your dog’s mouth, a supernumerary tooth could be erupted or impacted, there might be one or more teeth present, and it could be unilateral or bilateral.
Problems Caused by Extra Teeth?
The development of extra teeth in dogs is somewhat uncommon, and when it does happen, they may or may not lead to other issues. If an issue does arise, it is most likely to be some degree of crowding or malocclusion of the teeth, depending on where the extra teeth erupt.
Even if your dog shows no signs of pain or discomfort, you should still get the teeth radiographed (examined with an x-ray) to ensure that they are developing normally and won’t create any issues.
What Your Dog’s Bad Breath Could Be Telling You About Their Health
Your veterinarian may advise extraction in situations where additional teeth are either currently causing malocclusion or are likely to do so.
Not only can extra teeth clutter the mouth, but they can also harm a dog’s natural teeth if they are misplaced. Too many teeth increase the possibility of food being trapped between them, which can result in the buildup of bacteria and the development of plaque.
These factors raise the possibility of periodontal disease in your dog. When it comes to treating canine supernumerary teeth, it’s crucial to hear your veterinarian’s advice because their expertise will enable them to advise you on the best course of action for your dog’s particular circumstances.
A tooth may not be able to emerge from the gum properly if the extra tooth (or teeth) are obstructing the eruption pathway that your dog’s typical permanent teeth would use to grow out.
By trapping the tooth beneath the gum and increasing your dog’s risk of cyst formation, this can lead to a partial or complete eruption failure. This presents a chance for infection and other problems if left unattended.
Guidelines for Maintaining Your Dog’s Dental Health
Even though many dog owners overlook it, taking care of your dog’s teeth is just as vital as taking care of your own. Maybe this explains why, according to the American Veterinary Dental College, most dogs develop periodontal disease to some extent by the time they are three years old.
Although it does require some effort, maintaining your dog’s teeth is not difficult. Following these easy guidelines will help you maintain your dog’s teeth healthy and clean:
• At the very least, once a day, brush your dog’s teeth after each meal.
• Use a tooth wipe to help eliminate plaque if your dog won’t let you brush his teeth.
• You can occasionally give your dog dental treats to help scrape plaque and tartar off his teeth, but don’t use them as a replacement for brushing.
• Make sure your dog has enough of chews to engage in as the act of chewing can aid in the removal of plaque and replicate the generation of salivary enzymes that support dental health.
• Request a professional cleaning from your veterinarian once or twice a year.
How to Conduct a Dental Exam at Home
Making it a routine to conduct a regular dental examination at home for your dog is one of the best things you can do to prevent dental issues and remain on top of their oral health. You can then look for any indications of problems in your dog’s teeth, gums, and other mouth-related regions.
The majority of dogs will need to be introduced to this technique gradually, though, as they frequently find it uncomfortable when someone handles their lips. So you might need to build up to doing this.
Start by just touching your dog’s snout and feeling all around the mouth’s outside without attempting to look inside at the same time. Push their lips back softly till you can see their teeth and gums once they are comfortable with it. You will get the chance to take an initial exam because of this. Check for any indicators of issues like bleeding gums, swelling, or unexplained lumps and bumps. Count your dog’s teeth. Observe how they are aligned (or out of alignment). An average puppy has 28 baby teeth overall, and an average adult dog has 42 permanent teeth.
In order to have a better look at your dog’s whole mouth structure, the interior of the mouth, the roof of the mouth, and both on and beneath the tongue, you can attempt opening up your dog’s mouth more as they get used to this initial inspection. Contact your dog’s veterinarian if you ever observe anything suspicious or worrisome in its mouth.
Comparison of Baby Teeth vs. Extra Teeth
Supernumerary teeth may not be the cause of your dog’s extra teeth if you have a younger dog. After all, as we already indicated, the illness is exceedingly unusual. Your dog may, however, be dealing with persistent baby teeth or persistent deciduous teeth if it is younger than a year old.
Retained baby teeth happen when your dog’s permanent teeth are erupting but their baby teeth aren’t erupting as predicted. This condition is most prevalent in smaller dogs and toy breeds. As several teeth compete for the same area, this can result in crowding in the mouth.
In addition to causing more voids in the gums, which can increase the likelihood of bacteria and plaque penetrating the roots and causing periodontal disease and dental difficulties, this can also affect the alignment of their permanent teeth.
Speak with your veterinarian if you have any questions regarding the dental health of your dog or suspect that he may have extra teeth. Your veterinarian may offer advice on how to maintain a healthy mouth for your dog, as well as identify and deal with extra teeth.
