If you’ve ever tried to examine your dog’s mouth — or wondered why your puppy’s teeth seem to keep multiplying — you’ve probably asked yourself how many teeth dogs actually have. The answer changes depending on your dog’s age, and it matters more than you’d think for their dental health.
How Many Teeth Do Adult Dogs Have?
Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth. This is more than humans (32) and reflects the dog’s evolutionary history as a predatory carnivore. The full adult dental complement breaks down as follows:
- 12 incisors — 6 upper, 6 lower; the small front teeth used for grooming and nibbling
- 4 canines — 2 upper, 2 lower; the prominent “fang” teeth used for gripping and tearing
- 16 premolars — 8 upper, 8 lower; used for shearing and cutting food
- 10 molars — 4 upper, 6 lower; used for grinding
The dental formula for an adult dog is written as: 2 × (I 3/3, C 1/1, PM 4/4, M 2/3) = 42, where I = incisors, C = canines, PM = premolars, M = molars.
How Many Teeth Do Puppies Have?
Puppies have 28 deciduous (baby) teeth — also called milk teeth or puppy teeth. These are temporary and will be replaced by the 42 permanent adult teeth. The puppy dental formula is:
- 12 incisors — 6 upper, 6 lower
- 4 canines — 2 upper, 2 lower
- 12 premolars — 6 upper, 6 lower
Puppies have no molars — those only come in with the adult teeth. This is why puppies seem to have fewer, more needle-like teeth.
When Do Puppies Get Their Baby Teeth?
Puppies are born without any visible teeth. Their deciduous teeth erupt in a predictable sequence:
- 2–3 weeks: Incisors begin to emerge
- 3–4 weeks: Canine teeth emerge
- 4–6 weeks: Premolars emerge
- 6–8 weeks: Full set of 28 baby teeth present
By the time most puppies go home with their new families at 8 weeks, they have a complete set of tiny, very sharp deciduous teeth.
When Do Adult Teeth Come In?
The transition from puppy teeth to adult teeth happens between approximately 3 and 7 months of age — the peak of the puppy teething phase. The sequence generally follows this timeline:
- 3–4 months: Incisors begin falling out; adult incisors emerge
- 4–5 months: Adult canines begin emerging; baby canines may still be present
- 4–6 months: Adult premolars emerge
- 5–7 months: Adult molars emerge (first appearance — puppies had none)
- 6–7 months: Most dogs have their full adult dentition
Larger breeds tend to complete the transition slightly later than smaller breeds. By 7 months, most dogs should have all 42 adult teeth in place.
Types of Dog Teeth and What They Do
Understanding the function of each tooth type helps explain why certain teeth are more prone to injury or disease.
Incisors
The 12 small front teeth are used for grooming (you’ve seen your dog nibble at a flea or a mat), picking up small objects, and scraping meat from bones. They’re also used in social grooming between dogs. Incisors have a single root and are the most likely to be lost first in dogs with advanced periodontal disease.
Canines (Fang Teeth)
The four prominent fang teeth — often called “cuspids” — are the dog’s primary gripping, holding, and tearing tools. They interlock when the mouth is closed and are important for holding prey (or toys). The upper canines are also involved in maintaining the position of the lower jaw. These have long, deep single roots that anchor them firmly in the jaw. Canine teeth are the most commonly affected in tooth fractures from hard chewing objects.
Premolars
The 16 premolars sit between the canines and molars. Their pointed cusps make them effective for shearing and cutting. The upper and lower premolars work like scissors. The fourth upper premolar on each side — the carnassial tooth — is the largest premolar and the most powerful shearing tooth in the mouth. It has three roots and is the tooth most commonly involved in tooth fractures and dental abscesses.
Molars
Dogs have 10 molars — 4 in the upper jaw and 6 in the lower. They’re broader and flatter than premolars, designed for crushing and grinding harder food items. In strict carnivores the molars are less developed, but domestic dogs’ omnivore-adjacent diet has given them functional molars. These are often missed in dental examinations and can harbor significant disease when neglected.
Retained Deciduous Teeth: When Baby Teeth Don’t Fall Out
Sometimes, a baby tooth fails to fall out after the adult tooth begins to emerge — a condition called retained deciduous teeth (or persistent deciduous teeth). This is one of the most common dental problems in puppies, particularly in small and toy breeds.
The problem: when two teeth occupy the same space, it crowds the adult tooth out of its normal position and creates a narrow pocket between the teeth where food and bacteria accumulate, causing accelerated periodontal disease. The retained tooth should be extracted promptly — ideally before the adult tooth has erupted more than two-thirds of the way in.
Signs of retained deciduous teeth:
- Two teeth visibly occupying the same position (most often the canines)
- The adult tooth erupting behind or beside, rather than replacing, the baby tooth
- Crowding or misalignment of the front teeth
If you notice your puppy has two canine teeth on one side at around 5–6 months of age, mention it to your vet at the next visit. Extraction during a spay/neuter procedure (if scheduled around this age) is a common and convenient time to address retained teeth.
How to Check Your Dog’s Teeth
Getting a dog comfortable with mouth handling is an important part of dental care and helps with both brushing and home examinations. To check your dog’s tooth count and condition:
- Choose a calm moment after exercise
- Gently lift the lip on each side to examine the premolars and molars
- Pull the lip forward slightly to count the incisors across the front
- Check for brown tartar accumulation, red or bleeding gums, or any loose teeth
- Note any asymmetry, swelling, or masses
A complete exam — particularly the back molars and the inside of the mouth — requires professional evaluation under sedation or anesthesia. Annual vet dental checkups provide far more information than home inspection alone.
For step-by-step guidance on making mouth handling and brushing a positive experience for your dog, see: How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth the Right Way.
Do Dogs Lose Teeth as Adults?
Adult dogs should not lose their permanent teeth. If your adult dog loses a tooth, it’s almost always due to one of three causes:
- Advanced periodontal disease — the most common cause; gum and bone loss detaches the tooth from its socket
- Tooth fracture — a broken tooth that eventually loses its attachment
- Trauma — impact injury to the face or mouth
A lost adult tooth is not a normal part of aging in dogs the way it might be perceived. It indicates dental disease and should be followed up with a full dental examination to assess the remaining teeth and treat underlying disease.
For more on keeping all 42 adult teeth healthy throughout your dog’s life, see: Dog Dental Disease: How It Starts and How to Stop It.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teeth do dogs have?
Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth. Puppies have 28 deciduous (baby) teeth, which are replaced by the adult set between approximately 3 and 7 months of age.
Do dogs have the same number of teeth as humans?
No. Adult humans have 32 teeth (including wisdom teeth), while adult dogs have 42. Dogs have more premolars and molars relative to their jaw size, which reflects their carnivore ancestry and their need to shear and process tougher food items.
What is the carnassial tooth in dogs?
The carnassial tooth is the upper fourth premolar — the largest tooth in the dog’s mouth, with three roots, located about midway back on each side of the upper jaw. It’s the primary shearing tooth and is the most commonly fractured and abscessed tooth in dogs.
When do puppies lose their baby teeth?
Puppies typically begin losing their deciduous teeth around 3–4 months of age, starting with the incisors. The process continues through approximately 7 months, when most dogs should have a full set of 42 adult teeth. If a puppy still has visible baby teeth alongside adult teeth by 6 months, consult your vet about retained deciduous teeth.
Do dogs get wisdom teeth?
Dogs don’t have wisdom teeth in the way humans do — there are no late-erupting third molars that commonly become impacted. All of a dog’s 42 adult teeth erupt predictably by around 7 months of age.
Is it normal for an adult dog to lose a tooth?
No. Adult dogs should not lose permanent teeth without cause. A lost adult tooth indicates significant dental disease (usually advanced periodontal disease), a fracture, or trauma. If your adult dog loses a tooth, schedule a dental examination to assess the remaining teeth and underlying bone.