The canine (from Latin canina) is a type of tooth that is mainly used for shredding food.

Numera ma tulaga. Located in the oral cavity and at the angle of the dental arch (1), the canines are part of the dentition. In humans, the dentition has four canines distributed as follows (2):

• lua ta'ifau pito i luga, o lo'o tu i itu uma o le tui pito i luga
• e lua ta'ifau pito i lalo, o lo'o tu i itu uma e lua o le tui pito i lalo.

faatulagaga. Canines are sharp teeth with two sharp edges. Like all teeth, each canine constitutes a mineralized organ, innervated, irrigated and composed of three distinct parts (1):

• The crown, the visible part of the tooth, is made up of enamel, dentin and the pulp chamber. In the case of the canine, the crown is pointed with sharp edges.
• O le ua o le pito lea o le faatasiga i le va o le pale ma le a'a.
• The root, an invisible part of the tooth, is anchored in the alveolar bone and covered by the gum. It is made up of cement, dentin and pulp canal. In the case of the canine, the root is long and single.

Nifo. In humans, three dentitions follow one another. The canines appear twice, during the first and second dentition. During the first dentition, the four canines appear in children around 10 months, and form part of the temporary teeth or milk teeth. (2) Around the age of 6 years, the temporary teeth fall out and give way to the permanent teeth, which appear in the same number and around the age of 10 years for the canines. They correspond to the second dentition. (3)

Matafaioi i meaai. (4) Depending on their shape and position, each type of tooth has a specific role in chewing. With their sharp edges and pointed shape, canines are used to shred sturdier foods like meat.

Fa'ama'i pipisi.

• E pala nifo. E fa'atatau i se fa'ama'i pipisi e fa'aleagaina ai le enamel ma mafai ona a'afia ai le nifo ma le pulp. O auga o le tiga o nifo faapea foi ma le pala o nifo. (5)
• Fa'amama o nifo. E fetaui ma le faaputuputuina o namu ona o se siama siama ma e faʻaalia i le tiga maʻi.

Fa'ama'i fa'ama'i.

• Gingivitis. E fetaui ma le fula o le pulu ona o le ma'a nifo siama. (5)
• Periodontitis. Periodontitis, e taʻua foi o le periodontitis, o le fula o le periodontium, o le aano lagolago lea o le nifo. O fa'ailoga e masani lava ona fa'aalia e le gingivitis fa'atasi ma le matala o nifo. (5)

Manu'a nifo. E mafai ona suia le fausaga o le nifo pe a te'i. (6)

Fa'aletonu o nifo. E iai fa'aletonu nifo 'ese'ese pe i le lapopo'a, numera po'o le fausaga.

Oral treatment. Daily oral hygiene is necessary to limit the onset of dental disease. Descaling can also be carried out.

Drug treatments. Depending on the pathology diagnosed, certain medications may be prescribed such as painkillers and antibiotics.

Dental surgery. Depending on the pathology diagnosed and its evolution, a surgical intervention may be implemented with, for example, the fitting of a dental prosthesis.

Togafitiga fa'afofoga. O lenei togafitiga e aofia ai le faasa'oina o faaletonu po o tulaga leaga o nifo. 

Su'ega nifo. Fa'atino e le foma'i nifo, o lenei su'ega e mafai ai ona iloa fa'aletonu, fa'ama'i po'o manu'a i nifo.

X-ray If a pathology is found, an additional examination is carried out by radiography of the dentition.

The upper canines are sometimes called the “teeth of the eye” because their very long roots extend up to the region of the eye. Therefore, infection in the upper canines can sometimes spread to the orbital region.