Ever heard of a “Shark Smile”? In the vet world, we call these retained deciduous teeth (or sometimes supernumerary teeth).

The Golden Rule for dogs and cats is that they should never have more than one of any given tooth at a time.

Sometimes, a stubborn baby tooth refuses to fall out as the adult tooth moves in. While these “extra” teeth might look cute, they can cause big problems for your pet’s oral health. If left alone, they can.

• Prevent adult teeth from coming in correctly
• Cause painful crowding
• Affect the bite (leading to underbites or overbites)
• Accelerate tartar formation and permanent decay

The Healthy Paws Standard:

During every spay or neuter procedure, we perform a full “tooth count.” This allows us to remove any unwanted baby teeth while your pet is already safely under anesthesia—preventing future dental drama before it starts!

Shark vs. Dog vs. Human:

• Sharks: Have a “conveyor belt” system, losing and replacing up to 30,000 teeth in a lifetime. They bite with 4,000 psi.
• Dogs: Clock in at 200–300 psi.
• Humans: A puny 160 psi.

Sharks might have the “extra” power, but we want to make sure your pets have just the right amount of teeth for a healthy, happy smile!