The teeth that usually break are the dog's largest and most powerful teeth: the carnassials. Dogs have four carnassial teeth, an upper and a lower on each side, situated with their molars. Carnivores ...
Carnassial teeth are modified molars (and in the case of carnivorans premolars) which are adapted to allow for the shearing (rather than tearing) of flesh to permit the more efficient consumption of meat. The most distinguishing characteristic of a carnivore’s mouth is the presence of specialized cheek teeth known as carnassials. These teeth are modified molars and premolars that work together with a powerful, scissor-like shearing action. Most carnivores have carnassial, or shearing, teeth that function in slicing meat and cutting tough sinews.
carnassial teeth, The carnassials are usually formed by the fourth upper premolar and the first lower molar, working one against the other with a scissorlike action. These four teeth, called carnassial teeth, have knife-like edges so that the teeth slice past one another and act like scissors when the jaw is closing. The restricted vertical movement of the jaw, another feature common to all carnivorans, helps the carnassial teeth to function. Carnivorous animals primarily possess a tooth known as the “cheek teeth,” often referred to as the carnassial tooth. Many carnivores possess this tooth, but the canine (dog) species associates with carnassials more frequently than any other.
carnassial teeth, Carnassial refers to the modified large, cutting teeth in carnivores, specifically the lower first molar and upper fourth premolar, which produce a scissorlike slicing action during mastication as their intercuspal ridges slide across one another. The meaning of CARNASSIAL is of, relating to, or being a tooth of a carnivore often larger and longer than adjacent teeth and adapted for cutting rather than tearing.
