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KidsCorner - Teeth

RUMINANT DENTITION: THE TEETH OF GOATS, SHEEP, BISON AND COWS

Ruminants such as goats, sheep, cows, and bison are herbivores with unique dentition. A prominent feature of ruminant dental anatomy (the way the teeth are arranged) is that they lack upper incisors. They have no front teeth on the top. Where you might expect the top front teeth to be, they have a "dental pad" instead, as shown in the photo below of a goat. The front teeth and dental pad are used for biting off grass and leaves. Ruminants also use their sensitive tongues along with their teeth and dental pads to pick out and bite off the food they eat.

In the back of their mouths, ruminants have teeth on their top and bottom jaws, just like you do. The back teeth, premolars and molars, are used for grinding their food so that is can be more easily digested. The back teeth are very sharp.

When they are born, ruminants typically have only 20 teeth. These teeth are called deciduous teeth or “baby teeth” because they gradually fall out and are replaced as the animal grows. The teeth that replace the deciduous teeth are called permanent teeth. By the time the ruminant is 5 years old it has 32 teeth. It will have 8 incisors on the bottom and a total of 24 molars and premolars in the back.: 12 on top and 12 on bottom.

That’s right!!! Goats do not have upper incisors…and I’ve NEVER seen one with braces. Just goes to show, you can’t believe everything you see on the internet!!!