How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have?

Canine dentition refers to the arrangement, types, and roles of teeth in dogs across life stages.

Overview of canine dentition

Typical adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth and puppies have 28 deciduous teeth, figures that are commonly used for clinical dental charts and treatment planning^[1].

Different tooth types—incisors, canines, premolars and molars—serve distinct roles in grooming, grasping, tearing and grinding, and knowing counts helps veterinarians assess development, detect retained or missing teeth, and plan dental procedures^[1].

Puppy (deciduous) teeth count

Puppies normally develop 28 deciduous (baby) teeth total, consisting of incisors, canines and premolars with no deciduous molars recorded in standard charts^[2].

Deciduous teeth usually erupt between about 3 and 6 weeks of age, a window that veterinarians use to stage dental development in litters^[2].

Baby teeth function to allow nursing, early bite control and exploratory chewing until permanent teeth erupt, and they normally begin to shed as permanent crowns push up through the gums around 3 to 7 months of age^[2].

Signs of abnormal retention include visibly crowded or overlapping baby teeth past the expected exfoliation window or persistent bleeding, both of which often prompt a dental exam and charting^[3].

Adult (permanent) teeth count

The standard adult dentition for most dog breeds totals 42 permanent teeth, broken down into 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars and 10 molars in typical charts used by clinicians^[4].

Permanent teeth commonly erupt in a roughly predictable sequence and are usually in place by 6 to 7 months of age in most dogs, which helps determine timing for spay/neuter and dental evaluations^[4].

Compared with deciduous teeth, permanent teeth have larger crowns, longer roots and thicker enamel, adaptations that increase functional durability for life-long mastication and social behaviors^[1].

Tooth types and functions

Incisors are typically 12 in adults (6 upper, 6 lower) and are used for nibbling, grooming and precise nipping near the lips and muzzle^[5].

Canines number 4 in adult dogs (one per quadrant) and act as primary grasping and puncturing teeth with long single roots that resist lateral forces^[5].

Premolars total 16 in adults and function mainly to shear and slice food; their multiple cusps and roots help break down food before swallowing^[5].

Molars, usually 10 in adult dogs, provide crushing and grinding surfaces especially for more fibrous or hard material that requires occlusal contact^[5].

Basic external anatomy includes the visible crown covered in enamel, the root embedded in alveolar bone and the cementum and periodontal ligament that attach tooth to jaw—features central to tooth stability and response to disease^[1].

Form follows function: longer, conical canines resist tensile and torsional forces, while broader premolars and molars present occlusal surfaces for grinding, reflecting dietary and behavioral demands^[6].

Tooth counts by type in deciduous and adult canine dentitions

Tooth type	Deciduous count	Adult count	Primary role
Incisors	12	12	Nibbling, grooming
Canines	4	4	Grasping, defense
Premolars	12	16	Shearing, slicing
Molars	0	10	Crushing, grinding

Tooth development timeline

Sequence charts show deciduous incisors and canines erupt early (around 3 to 6 weeks) and are later replaced by permanent incisors and canines from about 3 to 5 months, with premolars and molars completing the set by roughly 6 to 7 months^[6].

Common teething behaviors include increased chewing, mild bleeding at the gumline, dribbling and brief periods of irritability; these behaviors generally peak during active eruption windows and then resolve as teeth complete eruption^[2].

Genetic factors, early nutrition, trauma to deciduous teeth and jaw conformation can accelerate or delay eruption by several weeks to months, which is why clinicians chart individual timing rather than relying on a single calendar age^[4].

Breed, size and individual variations

Small-breed and toy dogs commonly exhibit dental crowding and a higher incidence of retained deciduous teeth, problems that can require earlier extraction to prevent malocclusion and periodontal disease^[7].

Brachycephalic breeds often show conformational impacts such as rotated or crowded teeth because of shortened jaws and compressed dental arches, which alters normal occlusion patterns for some individuals^[7].

Congenital anomalies such as hypodontia (missing teeth) or supernumerary teeth (extra teeth) occur in a minority of dogs and are documented on oral exams and radiographs to determine need for intervention^[6].

Common dental problems affecting tooth count

Retained baby teeth are a frequent cause of crowding and can predispose adjacent permanent teeth to malalignment; veterinarians often recommend extraction when retention persists beyond the normal exfoliation period^[8].

Periodontal disease is the leading infectious cause of tooth loss in dogs and can lead to loosening and eventual loss of teeth if plaque and calculus are not controlled with professional care and home hygiene^[6].

Fractures, tooth resorption and impacted teeth can alter tooth counts acutely or progressively and are diagnosed with combined oral examination and dental radiography to determine prognosis^[4].

Systemic consequences of severe oral disease include chronic pain, reduced appetite and documented bacteremia risk that can complicate other organ systems, which is one reason clinicians emphasize early detection and treatment^[6].

Diagnosis and dental examination

Veterinary oral exams routinely include visual inspection, periodontal probing and tooth charting to record present, missing, loose or fractured teeth during a clinical visit^[9].

Dental radiographs are essential to evaluate root integrity, bone loss and impacted or retained roots, and radiography is often performed under heavy sedation or general anesthesia for optimal imaging and patient safety^[1].

Clinicians record anomalies on a dental chart and compare exams over time to monitor disease progression, tooth eruption sequences, or effects of treatment interventions such as extractions or restorations^[3].

Treatment options for abnormal or problematic teeth

Extractions are the most common definitive treatment for retained, fractured or irreparably diseased teeth and are followed by postoperative analgesia, oral antibiotics when indicated, and short-term dietary modification^[10].

Restorative options exist but are limited in veterinary practice; single-tooth root canal therapy and crowns are performed by veterinary dental specialists but are less commonly used than extraction due to cost and technical demands^[3].

Referral to a board-certified veterinary dentist is recommended for complex extractions, jaw fractures, extensive periodontal disease or when advanced restorative procedures are considered^[3].

Preventive care and home maintenance

Daily tooth brushing is the gold-standard home measure to slow plaque accumulation; guidelines recommend daily or at minimum several-times-per-week brushing with canine-appropriate toothpaste to reduce periodontal disease risk^[11].

• Use a pet-safe toothpaste and a soft brush for daily brushing, and introduce brushing gradually to build tolerance in puppies and adult dogs^[11].

Professional dental cleanings are commonly recommended once yearly or more frequently based on individual risk factors such as breed, age and existing periodontal disease, with scheduling guided by a veterinary assessment^[3].

Owners should monitor teeth and gums at home for broken teeth, persistent bad breath, bleeding, swelling, or reluctance to chew, and seek veterinary evaluation when such signs arise to protect tooth count and overall health^[6].

Sources

• merckvetmanual.com — Veterinary clinical reference
• vcahospitals.com — Veterinary hospital dentistry resources
• aaha.org — Canine dental care and guidelines
• avma.org — American Veterinary Medical Association resources
• wsava.org — World Small Animal Veterinary Association dental guidance
• ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — Peer-reviewed studies on veterinary dentistry and periodontal disease
• vcahospitals.com — Breed-specific dental considerations
• merckvetmanual.com — Retained deciduous teeth and treatment indications
• merckvetmanual.com — Dental examination and charting protocols
• aaha.org — Extractions and perioperative dental care
• avma.org — Home dental care recommendations and frequency guidance