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anatomy guide

Bearded dragon dental anatomy — acrodont and pleurodont teeth

Overview of bearded dragon dentition — acrodont teeth fused to the crest of the jaw and never replaced, with a small pleurodont group at the front that is shed and regrown.
General educational reference only — not clinical or veterinary advice. Anatomy varies between individual animals; consult a licensed veterinarian for any health concern.

Three ways teeth attach

Reptile teeth attach to the jaw in different ways. Acrodont teeth are fused to the top edge of the jaw bone with no socket; pleurodont teeth are attached to the inner surface of the bone; thecodont teeth, as in mammals and crocodilians, sit in deep sockets. The bearded dragon uses the first two.

A mixed dentition

Most of a bearded dragon's tooth row is acrodont. These teeth are ankylosed to the crest of the maxilla and dentary, and they are laid down once and not replaced. At the front of each jaw sits a small group of pleurodont teeth, larger and more caniniform, which are shed and replaced throughout life.

Shape and wear

The acrodont teeth are triangular and laterally compressed, suited to shearing insects and plant material rather than grinding. Because they are not replaced, they wear down progressively over the animal's life, so the tooth row of an old dragon is lower and blunter than a young one's.

Sources

More Bearded Dragon anatomy

Digestive systemSkeletal systemThermoregulation and integumentary systemRespiratory system

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