Four Canine Kitty-Corners

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----COMPLETE DENTISTRY STUDIO---- 253 East Center Street--Manchester, CT 860-649-4435

​MUSCLES:    ' Where are these canine "kitty-corners" that you speak of?
                         What are these special "corners"? 
                          I didn't know that humans have something named after us!!! '

Dr Skerpan:    Yes, we certainly do!  Actually,
  there are four canine teeth in the human
  mouth named after a dog's fangs.  Although
  human​ canines are not as long, pronounced
  or​ sharp as a dog's equivalent teeth, they are
  named for the resemblance of them.  Two
  canine teeth are located in the upper-jaw--
  and two canine teeth are located in the 
  lower-jaw.  They are the teeth which are
  positioned between the front & back teeth
  in the upper-arch and lower-arch (see the
  picture @ right).  As the teeth progress from
  the back-molars to the front-incisors, the 
  canines serve as "transition" teeth to accom-
  modate the jaw's U-shaped bone. The canine
  teeth are shaped & positioned to form the 
  left & right "kitty-corners" in each of the two
  U-shaped arches (upper & lower)--(see the
  picture @ right).

There are 2 CANINE teeth in the upper-jaw & 2 CANINE teeth in the lower-jaw. They act as the "transition" teeth between back & front teeth.

The CANINE teeth are shaped & positioned to accommodate the "KITTY-corners" of the jaw's U-shaped bone. The CANINE's long root serves as a strong anchor in each arch corner.

MUSCLES:   ' Well, well!---Power to us pooches!  And I bet these canine teeth 
                        have important special functions like we dogs do?  Right? '

Dr Skerpan:   You're right on the nose again, MUSCLES!
                         In the most simplest of explanations---there are at least 
                         7 Major Functions of human canine teeth.
                          
1.  Help Fit the Teeth within the Curved Jaw-Arch:
​     As discussed above, the canine's tooth-shape and "kitty-corner" position allows
     teeth to "transition" smoothly from back-molars to front-incisors.  Furthermore,
     the canine teeth are crucial in forming the left and right "kitty-corners" in the 
     upper & lower U-shaped arches.

2.  Eating & Chewing:
     The back-teeth have top-horizontal-surfaces with cusps to bite & crush food. 
     The front-teeth are thinner with each one having a top-incisal-edge and no
     cusps.  These incisal-edges are sharp for cutting food.  It has been said that the
     canine tooth serves as both a back and a front tooth.  It has a single, pointed
     cusp, but this cusp is thinner than the back-teeth cusps.  The four human
     canines are slightly more pointed & longer than the other teeth in the mouth--
     and they are used for both biting and tearing food.

3.  Speaking:
     Together with all their neighboring teeth, the canine teeth help the tongue &
     lips form sounds and enunciate speech clearly.  The tongue presses against the
     hard teeth within the U-shaped arches to do so--and the tongue is held within
     these arches by them!

4.  The Smile:
     Along with the front-teeth for cutting food, the canines are considered part of
     the front-teeth for the smile's shape.  They are an essential & integral part of the
     front ensemble for an aesthetically pleasing smile.
​

5.  Long Length of Root:
     Considering the full tooth's length, the canine's root is the longest root for it's
     crown size of any tooth.  It's root-length is very long relative to it's crown-height,
     which gives it structural strength at the "kitty-corner" arch (see the pictures
     below).  Because the canine tooth can function as both a back and a front tooth,
     the impacts to it are frequent & forceful.  It requires great anchoring strength 
     to act in the corner position of an arch---AND for sustaining the frequent biting
​     and side-to-side forces (see below 7.  The "Bite & Chewing).

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The CANINE's ROOT is the longest root for it's crown size of any tooth.

The long CANINE ROOT serves for great bone anchorage--& gives needed strength for frequent & forceful impacts.

6.  Facial Form & Contour:
​     Both the length of the canine root and it's "kitty-corner" position in the jaw help
     determine the structural shape of the jaws' arches.  The jaw-bone's curved 
     corners help define and sustain the external facial form & contour!  If a canine 
     is removed and the bone is lost, of course the facial features will be altered! 

MUSCLES:  ' Again!!!  The bone needs the tooth to survive--and the tooth
                       needs the bone to survive!!  It's deja-vu all over again!
                       However in this context, the teeth and bone have a symbiotic
                       relationship crucial for sustaining the outside facial structure too! 
                       How about the 7th Major Function of the human canine teeth? '
​

7.  The "Bite" & Chewing:
    Overly simplified & ideal--
    A lot is required of the canine teeth in the functioning of the teeth together.
    In closing the jaws together, the canines can hit with the force of back-teeth.
    Ideally in sliding to the sides, the canines help take the force in separating the
    back-teeth.  The canines also can take quite the force in sliding forward to the
    front tip-to-tip position.  The canines can help guide the jaw forward---i.e., by
    being a longer tooth, the canines can prevent the jaw from sliding beyond the
    arches' perimeters as it travels forward. 

    The jaw works within the curved ranges allowed by the teeth AND right & left
    TMJs (or Temporo-Mandibular-Joints.  See VIDEO @ DR SKERPAN-MISSION-
    VIDEO).  The two TMJs are "ball-joints" which must function within the
    range defined by the arches' borders--and within the borders defined by the
    teeth.  Likewise, the teeth cannot veer any farther than these "ball-joints" allow.
    (But more on the functioning of teeth and TMJs in our next dental-blog!)
    The canines are crucial in their longer-shapes & "kitty-corner" positions for
    helping the TMJs' motions keep within the range of the teeth.  In other words--
    as the jaws and muscles move forward & to the sides, the canine "kitty-corners"
    help guide these movements so the TMJs, muscles & teeth do not stray beyond
    the arches' borders.  In addition, the canines provide protection for the back &
    front teeth.  Ideally, the canines help guide and separate the back & front teeth 
    as thy slide side-to-side & all-around (see the pictures below).

( 8.  Minding those "Canines": 
     It should be noted here---all four canines are obviously SO-O-O important
     for the integral functioning of the occlusion.  Since they are "the protectors" of
     the back biting-teeth AND the front thinner-teeth---they can be (and should be)
     observed, monitored & properly treated over time (if need be). )    
​   

MUSCLES:  ' Just sayin'.  Always be mindful of your canines. 
                       Just sayin'.  Luv 'em and take care of 'em along the way. '
                       🐾🐾  

Here the CANINE serves to GUIDE, SEPARATE & PROTECT back & front teeth when sliding to the side. At the 'KITTY-CORNERS' of each arch.....

.....the CANINEs work WITH the TMJs, muscles & other teeth---to help keep jaw movements WITHIN the arches' borders when moving side-to-side & all-around.

As the CANINE wears with use in side movement, the back-teeth become LESS PROTECTED & begin contacting each other.......

.......ALSO the front-teeth can begin to wear when there is LESS CANINE PROTECTION for them.

      MUSCLES:   ' Well, I must say--this is one time we canines and
                              kitties do work very well together!  Maybe we're
​                              more "furr"-iends than I thought!  We both can
                              have great "paws"itive effects on the human world
                              in more ways than thought "paws"sible!  Who knew? ' 
                                                                         
   ' Let me summarize the 7 canine functions described above. '

  1.  Canines have the shapes to be at the "kitty-corners" of the curved jaw-arches.
  2. They can bite food with the back-teeth, yet tear food with the front-teeth.
  3. With their neighboring teeth, they serve to be stops for the tongue in speaking.
  4. As front-teeth, they help determine the smile's aesthetics. 
  5. Having the longest root-lengths of any teeth, they have great bone anchorage.
  6. They have shapes & positions to help form the external facial form & contour.
  7.  Canine teeth provide protection for back & front teeth---the canines guide &
      separate these other teeth as they slide side-to-side & all-around.
( 8. So-o-o important are your canines, that they can be attended to if they do not
​      function properly over time. )  

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' Stay-tuned for more on the "BITE" (AKA OCCLUSION) in our next Dental-Blog!!! CLICK PICTURE for my discussion on SPLOOTING! '

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THE very dog-gone END!

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