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Olive2005
5th January 2006, 04:52 PM
Olive is six months old and has almost all of her adult teeth. Still one little baby tooth hanging in there, but there are a few more adult teeth waiting to come in. To my surprise (for what I've read on posts) her teeth are quite straight. What I'm wondering about is her under bite. When we got her we performed all the inspections and her under bite was very close, (mom's was too) but it seems as she's getting her adult teeth its opening up. Basically the gap between her upper and lower teeth seems to be getting larger. I've read to a certain degree a gap is normal, but I'm a nervous parent! I know nothing can be done and it doesn’t change my feelings for her, but I'm wondering if that’s normal, or are her gaps going to continue to widen.

Everybody on this site is so helpful, even with the silly questions. Thanks in advance for helping a newbie!
gmacleod
5th January 2006, 05:36 PM
How big is the gap between lower and upper teeth?

Here's what the breed standard has to say:
Jaws : Broad, square, powerful. Lower jaw shows a broad curve, terminating in front of the upper jaw. The mouth being closed, the prominence of the lower jaw (prognathism-undershot) is moderated by the curve of the lower mandibular branches. This curve is necessary to avoid a too important shifting of the lower jaw.
Teeth : The lower incisors must never be behind the upper incisors in any case. The arch of the lower incisors is rounded. The jaw must not show lateral deviation, nor torsion. The disposition of the incisoral arches should not be strictly delimited, the essential condition being that the upper and the lower lips rejoin to completely cover the teeth.

In short, as long as she is undershot with a slightly curved lower jaw, and her teeth (and tongue) are not visible when her mouth is closed, then there is no major problem ;)
Olive2005
5th January 2006, 10:06 PM
How big is the gap between lower and upper teeth?

Here's what the breed standard has to say:


In short, as long as she is undershot with a slightly curved lower jaw, and her teeth (and tongue) are not visible when her mouth is closed, then there is no major problem ;)

Well, her teeth don't show and I've never seen her tongue. I was just wondering if that changes with age or is it pretty constant gap there whole lives. Thanks for the info!:D