To determine the dental formula of an adolescent human being before the age of 17, we can follow these steps:
### Step-by-Step Solution:
1. **Understand the Dental Formula**: The dental formula is a shorthand way of expressing the number and types of teeth in one half of the mouth. It is typically written as the number of each type of tooth in the upper jaw followed by the number in the lower jaw.
2. **Identify the Types of Teeth**: In humans, the types of teeth include:
- Incisors (I)
- Canines (C)
- Premolars (P)
- Molars (M)
3. **Dental Formula After 17 Years**: The dental formula for an adult human (after 17 years) is usually represented as:
- Upper jaw: 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars
- Lower jaw: 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 3 molars
- This can be written as: 2, 1, 2, 3 / 2, 1, 2, 3
4. **Dental Formula Before 17 Years**: Before the age of 17, adolescents typically have not yet developed their third molars (wisdom teeth). Therefore, the dental formula changes to:
- Upper jaw: 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 2 molars
- Lower jaw: 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 2 molars
- This can be written as: 2, 1, 2, 2 / 2, 1, 2, 2
5. **Conclusion**: Thus, the dental formula of an adolescent human being before the age of 17 is:
- **Dental Formula**: 2, 1, 2, 2 / 2, 1, 2, 2
