**The Dental Formula of a Baby**

The dental formula is a way to represent the number and types of teeth in each half of the upper and lower jaws. In humans, the dental formula varies depending on the stage of dentition, which means whether it represents the deciduous (baby) teeth or the permanent teeth. In this response, we will focus on the dental formula of a baby.

**Deciduous Dentition**

The deciduous dentition, also known as baby or milk teeth, is the set of teeth that begin to erupt during infancy and are eventually replaced by permanent teeth. The dental formula for deciduous dentition is as follows:

* **Incisors:** 2/2 (incisors in each half of the upper and lower jaws)
* **Canines:** 1/1 (canines in each half of the upper and lower jaws)
* **Molars:** 2/2 (molars in each half of the upper and lower jaws)

So, the dental formula for the deciduous dentition is 2/2 1/1 2/2. This means that each half of the upper and lower jaws of a baby has 2 incisors, 1 canine, and 2 molars.

**Explanation of the Teeth**

Let's delve into the different types of teeth represented in the dental formula:

1. **Incisors:** Incisors are the teeth located in the front of the mouth. They have a sharp, thin edge and are used for cutting and biting food. In a baby's dental formula, there are 2 incisors in each half of the upper and lower jaws, making a total of 8 incisors.

2. **Canines:** Canines, also known as cuspids, are the pointed teeth located next to the incisors. They have a more conical shape and are used for tearing and grasping food. A baby's dental formula consists of 1 canine in each half of the upper and lower jaws, totaling to 4 canines.

3. **Molars:** Molars are the teeth located at the back of the mouth. They have a larger surface area and are used for grinding and chewing food. In the deciduous dentition, there are 2 molars in each half of the upper and lower jaws, resulting in a total of 8 molars.

**Conclusion**

In summary, the dental formula for a baby's deciduous dentition is 2/2 1/1 2/2, indicating the presence of 2 incisors, 1 canine, and 2 molars in each half of the upper and lower jaws. It is important to remember that this dental formula represents the temporary set of teeth that will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth as the child grows.