page_title: Canine tooth
hierarchical_section_title: Canine tooth
context_page_description: In mammalian oral anatomy, the canine teeth, also called dog teeth, fangs, cuspids or eye teeth, are the relatively long, pointed teeth. They can appear more flattened however, causing them to resemble incisors and leading them to be called incisiform. They developed and are used primarily for firmly holding food in order to tear it apart, and occasionally as weapons. They are often the largest teeth in a mammal's mouth. Individuals of most species that develop them normally have four, two in the upper jaw and two in the lower, separated within each jaw by incisors; humans and dogs are examples. In most species, canines are the anterior-most teeth in the maxillary bone.
  The four canines in humans are the two maxillary canines and the two mandibular canines.
context_section_description: In mammalian oral anatomy, the canine teeth, also called dog teeth, fangs, cuspids or (in the context of the upper jaw) eye teeth, are the relatively long, pointed teeth. They can appear more flattened however, causing them to resemble incisors and leading them to be called incisiform. They developed and are used primarily for firmly holding food in order to tear it apart, and occasionally as weapons. They are often the largest teeth in a mammal's mouth. Individuals of most species that develop them normally have four, two in the upper jaw and two in the lower, separated within each jaw by incisors; humans and dogs are examples. In most species, canines are the anterior-most teeth in the maxillary bone. 
  The four canines in humans are the two maxillary canines and the two mandibular canines.
caption: This dog's longer pointed cuspids or "fangs" show why they are particularly associated with canines.
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