Page 306 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

290 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

Dog Cat
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104
204 Maxillary
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Right Left Right Left
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Mandible
FIGURE 15.9 Triadan numbering system.

must learn the numbering of the individual teeth. If you Figure 15.9, all four canine teeth are always referred as
remember that the four quadrants are numbered 1–4 04 with the quadrant number in front of the 04. The first
starting with the upper right quadrant as being 1 and molar is always 09. If a species has fewer teeth, identi-
moving counter‐clockwise, you’ll get the quadrants num- fying the canine tooth is fairly easy as it is the fourth
bered correctly. They divide the mouth in half with three tooth from the midline on both top and bottom jaws.
incisors on each side. Working from the midline out the The first molar will always be after the largest tooth in
right quadrant would start 101, 102, 103 for the incisors. the mouth which is the last premolar or carnassial tooth.
The upper right canine tooth is 104. Then in the canine Identify the molar then work back toward the canine
mouth are four premolars numbered 105, 106, 107, and tooth in species with fewer teeth than a canine. Note the
108. The largest tooth is 108, which is also referred to as cat chart in Figure 15.9. Find the first molar, as _09, now
the carnassial tooth. The first molar is 109, followed by work toward the canine tooth. You’ll notice that there
110. The upper left quadrant is the same just substitute are not as many premolars as there are in the dog.
the 1 for a 2 and you have all the teeth numbered on the
top jaw.
The bottom jaw is just as easy, substitute 4 and 3 for Anatomical Numbering System
right and left, respectively. However, you’ll note that the
lower jaw has one more molar than the top jaw. The anatomical system uses the first letter of each tooth
If you remember the “rule of 4 and 9” it will help you type along with a number to identify each tooth
adjust the number to other species. As you can see on (Figure 15.10): I – incisors, C – canine, P – premolars,