Dogs do not have wisdom teeth like humans. Humans develop a set of extra molars called wisdom teeth between 17 to 22 years of age. They usually help with chewing, but they can get impacted when there is not enough room in the mouth or if they’re in the incorrect position.

Note: An adult dog has about third more teeth as compared to humans.

How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have In Total?

An adult dog will have 42 teeth overall, with 20 on the top and 22 on the bottom of its jaw. [1]

The majority of dogs have the same amount of teeth. However, puppies have a different number of teeth as compared to adult dogs.

When all the baby teeth have come in, puppies normally have a set of 28 teeth. They have 14 teeth in both of their upper and lower jaws. [2]

If an adult dog has less than 42 teeth, it’s possible that a tooth has been lost or broken. It normally occurs when they carry heavy objects in their mouth, such as thick sticks or rocks.

Do not try to remove your dog’s loose tooth at home, as you might break its root, which leads to infection.

How Many Types Of Teeth Do Dogs Have?

  • Incisors
  • Canines
  • Premolars
  • Molars

Incisors

The teeth that form in front of the mouth are called Incisors. They have 12 incisors in total having, 6 in the upper and 6 in the lower jaw. They’re used for grinding, and their shape is perfect for cutting flesh from bones. Dogs also groom themselves with their incisors. [3]

Dogs even try to get rid of ticks and fleas from their coat by using their incisors.

Canines

The Canines are the pointing teeth on each side of their jaw. Each pair of incisors has one canine tooth present on their side.

They are mainly used to break food apart, such as beef. They can also be used to hold an object in a dog’s mouth, like a bone or a chew toy such as Hartz from this post. [4]

Note: Canines in dogs are also called fang teeth.

Pre-Molars

The pre-molars are situated behind the canines and are in total of 12 teeth having, four on every side.

They are typically used in chewing and shredding the food that your dog consumes. You might have noticed that your dog chews meat having bone using its side teeth. Their pre-molars help in shredding the meat out of the bone. [5]

Molars

The molar teeth are located towards the back of a dog’s mouth and are referred to as molars. The upper jaw has four molars, while the lower jaw has six. Molars are often used to break down the hard dog food into smaller pieces that your pet eats. Dog biscuits and dry dog food are the best examples. [6] [7]

When Do Adult Dogs Have Their Permanent Teeth?

Incisors

  • Central: 2-5 months
  • Intermediate: 2-5 months
  • Corner: 4-5 months

Canine

  • 5 months

Pre-molars

  • 1st pre-molar: 4-5 months
  • 2nd pre-molar: 6 months
  • 3rd pre-molar: 6 months
  • 4th pre-molar: 4-5 months

Molars

  • 1st molar: 5-6 months
  • 2nd molar: 6-7 months
  • 3rd molar: 6-7 months

Can An Adult Dog Lose Its Permanent Teeth?

Permanent tooth loss is alarming and can indicate a health condition or other dental problems. These permanent teeth are the only set of teeth that they will have for the rest of their life.

If your adult dog is losing its teeth, it’s a sign that your pet is having some serious dental or health disease. [8]

A dog can never grow back his lost teeth, and they can never be replaced.

Conclusion

Good dental health is critical to your dog’s overall well-being. If you find your pet has a loose tooth or is experiencing dental pain, you must seek medical help as early as possible. A regular and healthy oral care is required for your pet to live a balanced, joyful, and happy life.

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