Cheek teeth

{{Short description|Molar and premolar teeth in mammals}} [[File:Camel skull 2.JPG|thumb|Camel skull showing the cheek teeth and the diastema]] '''Cheek teeth''' or '''postcanines''' comprise the molar and premolar teeth in mammals. Cheek teeth are multicuspidate (having many folds or tubercles). Mammals have multicuspidate molars (three in placentals, four in marsupials, in each jaw quadrant) and premolars situated between canines and molars whose shape and number varies considerably among particular groups. For example, many modern Carnivora possess carnassials, or secodont teeth. This scissor-like pairing of the last upper premolar and first lower molar is adapted for shearing meat. In contrast, the cheek teeth of deer and cattle are selenodont.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Diversity of Cheek Teeth |url=https://animaldiversity.org/collections/mammal_anatomy/tooth_diversity/ |website=Animal Diversity Web |access-date=19 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004131012/http://animaldiversity.org/collections/mammal_anatomy/tooth_diversity/ |archive-date=2018-10-04}}</ref> Viewed from the side, these teeth have a series of triangular cusps or ridges, enabling the ruminants' sideways jaw motions to break down tough vegetable matter. Cheek teeth are sometimes separated from the incisors by a gap called a diastema.<ref>Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia. Second Edition. Volume 12. Mammals I. Gale 2004</ref>

Cheek teeth in reptiles are much simpler as compared to mammals.<ref>Austin Community College handout. http://www.austincc.edu/sziser/Biol%201413/1413%20handouts/reptile%20vs%20mammals.pdf</ref>

==Roles and significance== Apart from helping grind the food to properly reduce the size of substrates for stomach enzymes, their minor role is in giving shape and definition to the animals' jaws. The shape of cheek teeth are directly related to their function, and morphological differences between species can be attributed to their dietary variations. Additionally, the shape of a cheek tooth can be mechanically worn down based on diet, which is used to provide insights into the consumption habits of fossilized animals.<ref>Fortelius, Mikael (1985). "Ungulate Cheek Teeth: Developmental, Functional, and Evolutionary Interrelations" (PDF). Acta Zoologica Fennica. 180: 1–76. {{ISBN|951-9481-25-7}} – via ResearchGate.net.</ref> Proper cleaning of cheek teeth is vital for all species of organisms and many species including humans and ruminants keep it on top of their crucial priority list. Dental caries may result from improper care of cheek teeth which is a prominent problem across the globe.<ref>WHO|Oral Health: [https://web.archive.org/web/20071225174234/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs318/en/]</ref>

==Evolution== {{#section-h:Molar (tooth)|Mammal evolution}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== Bibliography == * {{Cite book | last1 = Zhao | first1 = Z. | last2 = Weiss | first2 = K. M. | last3 = Stock | first3 = D. W. | chapter = Development and evolution of dentition patterns and their genetic basis | pages = [https://archive.org/details/developmentfunct00teaf/page/n162 152]–72 | title = Development, Function and Evolution of Teeth | url = https://archive.org/details/developmentfunct00teaf | url-access = limited | editor1-last = Teaford | editor1-first = Mark F | editor2-last = Smith | editor2-first = Moya Meredith | editor3-last = Ferguson | editor3-first = Mark WJ | year = 2000 | publisher = Cambridge University Press | isbn = 978-0-511-06568-2 }} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}

Category:Types of teeth Category:Mammal anatomy