How many teeth does a decorative rat have? - briefly
A decorative rat usually lacks functional dentition; any teeth it appears to have are purely ornamental.
How many teeth does a decorative rat have? - in detail
A decorative rat is a non‑living representation, therefore it possesses no functional dentition. In most commercially produced figurines the oral cavity is left blank, and the piece is sold without any teeth at all. When a manufacturer chooses to depict teeth, the representation is purely ornamental and follows a minimal convention:
- Two small, rounded incisors are painted or sculpted at the front of the jaw.
- No premolars, molars, or canines are shown.
- The incisors are often exaggerated in size to convey the animal’s characteristic gnawing habit.
Materials influence the presence of teeth. Porcelain and ceramic models are typically glazed smooth, eliminating any raised dental features. Wooden carvings may include shallow incisions to suggest teeth, but these are not actual protrusions. Plastic figures sometimes have molded plastic incisors that are integral to the mold, yet they remain decorative.
If a decorative rat is intended for realistic display, such as a taxidermy replica, the teeth are usually fabricated from resin or polymer and attached to the skull. In those cases the count mirrors the natural anatomy of a rat, which includes 28 teeth (12 incisors, 12 molars, and 4 premolars). However, such detailed replicas are rare and costly compared with standard figurines.
In summary, the typical decorative rat has zero functional teeth; when teeth are shown, the design includes only two stylized incisors, and any deviation from this pattern is a deliberate choice by the maker rather than a biological requirement.