What Type of Teeth Do Rats Have?

Rats have teeth of three different types, with two sets of molars in the front and one set in the back. The first molar erupts on the 19th day of life, while the second erupts around the twenty-first day. The third molar emerges about two weeks later, around the thirty-fifth or fortyth day. After this point, molar growth slows dramatically, but it still continues to grow at a slow pace.

The teeth of a rat are composed of three layers, the inner core, the enamel, and the dentin. The front surface is made of enamel, while the back surface is made of dentin. The incisors are white in young rats, but they develop yellow tints after they grow up. They become yellower as the rat ages, reaching a deep orange color around age 38 days.

The incisors are easy to distinguish, but a rat’s molars are more complicated. The two sets are completely different in structure. The incisors have a thick layer of enamel covering below the gum line, whereas the molars are made of dentin, a softer substance.

In addition to molars, rats have premolars. These teeth are simpler than molars, and their crowns are often two-rooted. Some premolars can function like molars, which is a condition known as molarization. Some animals, such as horses, also have premolars that resemble molars.