[Veterinary dentistry (9). Classification, nomenclature and identification of animal dentition]

Abstract

This article in the series about the veterinary dentistry describes how the various dentitions of mammals can be distinguished by their form and function. The number of times and manner in which teeth are shed together with the course of tooth eruption also determine the classification. Attention is paid to the nomenclature and differentiation of dental elements, how the dental formula are composed, and how these formulas differ for various species. The importance of a standardized system for classifying the position of the dental elements is stressed. The three-digit notation system of Triadan is recommended.