| The normal and correct bite for most dog breeds is a scissors bite. (Some breeds with a shorter muzzle have an undershot bite, which is correct for them) A 'scissors bite' means that all of the upper teeth overlap all of the lower teeth. If you look at the teeth in the front of the mouth, called the incisors, all those upper teeth should lay over the top of all the bottom teeth. Incisors are the teeth that you see when someone smiles. If you look at the teeth on the both sides of the mouth, all of the upper teeth should lay over the top of the lower teeth. If even one tooth is out of place, that is an incorrect bite. When you look at the lower canine teeth, they should be spaced evenly between the upper canine teeth and the upper incisors. |
| Correct molar placement (top teeth over lower teeth) |
| Correct scissors bite (top teeth over lower teeth) |
| Note that the molars all have a place of their own. Lower molars should point upward to a space between the upper molars, and the uppers point down to a space between the lower molars. Though the spacing is not exact, it should be fairly even and balanced. |
| Inverted Molars |
| Posterior Cross Bite (inverted molar) is when one or more of the lower premolar teeth overlap the upper teeth. This is a fault in the showring. |
| Wry Bite |
| A wry bite occurs when one side of the jawbone grows more than the other side. When you look at the incisors (front teeth) some of these teeth will meet evenly or jut forward, instead of the upper teeth being over lower teeth as in a scissor bite. This is a severe fault. |
| Over Bite |
| An overshot bite is when the upper jaw and teeth jut out over the lower ones. This is very evident if you look at the mouth from the side. The lower teeth may bump the upper palate. It is also called parrot mouth and overshot bite. This is a severe fault. |
| Under Bite |
| The under bite occurs when the lower jaw juts forward past the upper one. This can easily be seen by viewing the mouth from the side or front. This is also called undershot mouth or reverse scissors bite. This is a severe fault. |
| Base Narrow |
| A base narrow mouth has the lower teeth pointing inward instead of upward and slightly outward. These teeth may bump the upper palate doing damage. This is caused by a very narrow lower mandible (jaw). This condition can be corrected with braces! This is a severe fault. |
| Properly aligned teeth are shaped in such a way that they naturally clean themselves. The movement of the teeth while eating pushes the food away from the teeth. When teeth are not aligned correctly, or are rotated, or there are still baby teeth inside the mouth, the teeth are not able to clean themselves naturally. |
| Genetic or Not??? |
| In breeds with medium to long muzzles, there may be a genetic origin to malocclusion if the tips of the premolars point toward each other, instead of fitting together in a saw-toothed pattern. |
| Incisors |
| Canines |
| Molars |
| Missing Teeth |
| Missing teeth are a severe fault sometimes found in Collies. The tooth may be inside the gum, or completely missing, This is hereditary. |
| Boxers & bulldogs are two breeds whose bites are correct if they are undershot. |
| Type of Bites |
| Correct canine placement (the lower canine fits between the upper canine tooth and the first upper incisorl) |