As baby dogs enter the adult stage, do their teeth also grow? If yes, how many adult teeth do dogs have? This is a question that most beginner pet owners ask me. This is also a concern for kids in school, so in this content, I will discuss adult dog teeth in detail.
We all know that baby dogs have 28 teeth and adult dogs have 42. I’ve already covered baby dog teething and tooth loss in detail, but in this content, for adult teeth, we will understand how many types of teeth are there, and how many teeth are in the upper jaw and lower jaw of an adult dog, and how they help an adult dog to survive?
These are the small questions that you know the answers to, if you really want to keep your dog’s teeth healthy.
Sometimes, adult dogs lose their teeth even though they are not supposed to at this age. That’s why knowing this basic information about dogs’ teeth is essential, so you can take the right action at the right time to keep your dog healthy.
How Many Adult Teeth Do Dogs Have?
The total number of teeth in a healthy adult dog’s mouth and their arrangement are fundamental topics of veterinary dentistry. A typical adult dog has 42 permanent teeth.
These teeth have evolved to meet their natural needs for crushing food, restraining prey, and protecting themselves. A dog’s upper jaw has a total of 20 teeth.
These include incisors, canines, and chewing teeth that work in concert with the teeth in the lower jaw. A dog’s lower jaw has a total of 22 teeth. The lower jaw has two more molars than the upper jaw, resulting in more lower teeth.
Types of Adult Dog Teeth
It is not that incisors, canines, Canines, Premolars and Molars are only found in adult dogs. When a puppy is born, it does not have any teeth, but as it grows, its milk teeth begin to erupt, totaling 28.
Later, as it develops further and becomes an adult, its milk teeth fall out and are replaced by 42 permanent (adult) teeth. Therefore, the main difference is the number of teeth, while the basic types of teeth remain the same: Incisors, Canines, Premolars, and Molars.
However, an important difference is that Molars are not present in puppies, even in baby cats, because at this age their jaws are not yet fully developed and there is not enough space for them.
How Many Adult Dogs Have Incisor Teeth?
According to the American Kennel Club, Dogs have a total of 12 incisors in their mouths, 6 in the upper jaw and 6 in the lower jaw. These teeth are arranged in a row in the front and center of the mouth. T
These small, smooth teeth are primarily used for scraping. Dogs use them to scrape the last bits of meat off bones and to groom themselves, such as removing fleas, ticks, and dirt from their fur.
How Many Adult Dogs Have Canine Teeth?
Adult dogs have a total of 4 canines or pointed fangs, 2 in the upper jaw and 2 in the lower jaw. Purpose (gripping, tearing)
These long, sharp, pointed teeth are located on the left and right sides of the incisors. Their main purpose is to grip prey or other hard objects (such as a favorite toy) tightly and tear meat or other food into pieces.
How Many Adult Dogs Have Premolar Teeth?
Premolars are the largest number of teeth in an adult dog’s mouth, totaling 16 (8 in the upper jaw and 8 in the lower jaw). Premolars are located behind the canine teeth and have very sharp edges. These teeth are used for cutting, shearing, and chewing food into small pieces.
How Many Adult Dogs Have Molar Teeth?
Unlike baby dog teeth, which have 0 molars, adult dogs have a total of 10 molars, 4 in the upper jaw and 6 in the lower jaw. These teeth are located at the very back of the mouth. They have a flat surface and are very strong, used for crushing and grinding hard foods such as dry kibble or bones.
Adult Dog Teeth Chart
Adult Dog Teeth Chart. In veterinary science, a mathematical formula called the Canine Dental Formula is used to understand the structure and arrangement of dogs’ teeth.
Since the left and right sides of a dog’s mouth are mirror images of each other, the formula is written as:
2(I3/3, C1/1, P4/4, M2/3)=42
Adult Dog Dental Formula: 2(I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3) = 42 teeth
Explanation:
- I = Incisors: 3 upper / 3 lower
- C = Canines: 1 upper / 1 lower
- P = Premolars: 4 upper / 4 lower
- M = Molars: 2 upper / 3 lower
- ×2 represents the left and right sides of the mouth.
Total adult dog teeth = 42.
The number of teeth in one part of the upper jaw is shown above the division mark, and the number of teeth in one part of the lower jaw is shown below.
Experts around the world use the “Modified Triadan System” to accurately identify teeth during treatment and examination, in which the mouth is divided into four quadrants and each tooth is given a specific three-dimensional code.
| Type of Teeth | Upper Jaw | Lower Jaw | Total |
| Incisors | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Canines | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Premolars | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| Molars | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| Total Teeth | 20 | 22 | 42 |
When Do Dogs Get Their Adult Teeth?
Puppies do not have teeth at birth. Their teeth develop, and the permanent teeth come in on a specific schedule:
- Deciduous Teeth: Puppies begin erupting their deciduous teeth at about 3 weeks of age, and by 8 weeks of age, all 28 deciduous teeth (14 on the top and 14 on the bottom) are in place. Puppies do not have molars.
- Tooth Loss and Replacement: At about 3 to 4 months of age, deciduous teeth begin to erupt, and permanent adult teeth begin to emerge from beneath them.
- Adult Teeth Complete: Usually by 6 to 8 months of age, all 42 permanent adult teeth have fully erupted, and the puppy’s permanent jaw has taken its final shape.
Why Do Adult Dogs Have 42 Teeth? Do All Dog Breeds Have the Same Number of Adult Teeth?
Biological reason for 42 teeth: From an evolutionary perspective, dogs’ ancestors were wild predators who needed a strong set of teeth for cutting meat, chewing bones, and defense.
This diverse combination of 42 teeth proved to be the most suitable for their omnivorous diet. Do all dogs have the same number of teeth? Theoretically, all adult dogs should have 42 teeth.
But in practice, the dog’s facial and jaw structure (skull conformation) has a profound effect on the number of teeth.
- Brachycephalic breeds: Pugs, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, and Bulldogs have small jaws. They often have missing teeth, a condition called hypodontia or oligodontia.
- Hairless Breeds: In breeds like the Chinese Crested, it is common for teeth to be congenitally missing due to a genetic disorder called ‘ectodermal dysplasia’.
- Dolichocephalic Breeds: Greyhounds and Collies have long jaws, which allow their teeth to be properly spaced, and they usually have a full set of 42 teeth.
Do Adult Dogs Lose Their Teeth
Unlike human children, once a dog’s permanent adult teeth come in, they do not naturally fall out. If an adult dog’s tooth is falling out, it is a sign of a serious problem:
- Trauma: Dogs often chew on hard objects such as rocks, hard pieces of wood, or overly hard bones, which can break or cause teeth to fall out.
- Severe periodontal disease: If plaque and tartar build up on the teeth, bacteria destroy the inner tissues of the gums and the bone that supports the teeth, causing the teeth to become loose and fall out
If a adult dog’s tooth falls out, it is important to see a doctor because the root left behind inside the gums can cause severe pain and infection.
Common Adult Dog Teeth Problems
Oral and dental diseases are very common in dogs, and their incidence increases with age. Common problems include:
Periodontal Disease:
This is the most common disease in dogs. Approximately 80% to 90% of dogs show some degree of periodontal disease by age 3.
It begins when plaque, a buildup of plaque on the teeth, hardens into tartar and causes inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
Retained Deciduous Teeth:
Sometimes, even though permanent teeth are coming in, a puppy’s deciduous teeth do not fall out. These deciduous teeth can obstruct the eruption of permanent teeth, and, due to crowding, dirt accumulates there, which quickly leads to gum disease.
Fractured Teeth:
Dogs often break their teeth due to chewing on rocks, hard toys, or unsuitable bones. This can cause severe pain to the dog.
Tooth Root Abscess:
A pocket of pus forms at the root of a tooth due to a fractured tooth or severe infection. This problem mostly occurs in the ‘Carnassial tooth’ (the upper fourth premolar).
One of the major symptoms of this is the sudden appearance of swelling on the face just below the dog’s eye. This treatment requires tooth extraction or a root canal.