How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have, and What Are They Called?

By Dr Duncan Houston

Your dog’s mouth contains several different types of teeth, each with its own shape and job. The pointed fangs are easy to recognise, but the smaller front teeth and the chewing teeth further back have names too.

Knowing the basics can help you understand a dental report and spot a tooth that needs checking.

Quick Answer

Adult dogs normally have 42 permanent teeth: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars and 10 molars. Puppies normally have 28 baby teeth and no baby molars. Adult teeth are usually present by around six to seven months of age, although individual dogs can have missing or extra teeth.

What are the four types of dog teeth?

An adult dog’s normal tooth count is divided between 20 upper teeth and 22 lower teeth.

Tooth type	Upper jaw	Lower jaw	Adult total	Location and main role
Incisors	6	6	12	Small teeth at the front, used for picking up and nibbling food.
Canines	2	2	4	Long, pointed fangs beside the incisors, used for gripping.
Premolars	8	8	16	Teeth behind the canines, used for cutting and shearing food.
Molars	4	6	10	Teeth at the back, involved in crushing, grinding and, for the lower first molars, shearing.
Total	20	22	42

The lower jaw has an extra molar on each side, which explains why it contains two more teeth than the upper jaw.

What is each individual tooth called?

Teeth are named by their position, counted from the front towards the back.

On each side of the upper jaw, a dog normally has:

First, second and third incisors.
One canine.
First, second, third and fourth premolars.
First and second molars.

On each side of the lower jaw, the arrangement is the same, with a third molar added at the back.

A complete name also includes the side and jaw. For example, “right upper fourth premolar” identifies one specific tooth. Right and left always refer to the dog’s own right and left.

What are carnassial teeth?

You may hear your vet mention the carnassial teeth. These are the upper fourth premolar and lower first molar on each side of the mouth.

They work together as a powerful shearing pair, helping cut food as the jaws close. Dogs have four carnassial teeth in total, forming two pairs.

They are already included in the premolar and molar counts. “Carnassial” describes this specialised pair, rather than an additional category of teeth.

How many teeth do puppies have?

A puppy’s complete baby set contains:

12 incisors
4 canines
12 premolars
No molars

That makes 28 deciduous teeth, also called baby or milk teeth.

The adult set includes four first premolars and ten molars that have no baby-tooth equivalents. These additional teeth account for the increase from 28 to 42.

When do puppy teeth fall out?

Baby teeth begin appearing at around three weeks of age. Replacement with adult teeth usually starts at about three to four months, and most dogs have their adult teeth by six to seven months.

You may never find the baby teeth. Puppies commonly swallow naturally shed teeth without a problem.

A puppy can temporarily have a mixture of baby and adult teeth during this transition, so the number you count will change.

Why does my dog have fewer than 42 teeth?

A lower count can have several explanations:

A tooth never developed.
A tooth developed but did not erupt through the gum.
Teeth were previously extracted.
Teeth were lost through disease or injury.
A tooth broke, leaving part of it or its roots behind.

An unexplained gap deserves a dental assessment. Looking at the gum alone cannot confirm whether a tooth is truly absent or hidden underneath.

Dental X-rays can identify unerupted teeth. Some can develop cysts that damage surrounding bone, so assuming every gap is harmless can miss an important problem.

What if my puppy has two fangs beside each other?

This often means the adult canine has appeared while its baby counterpart is still present. Vets call this a persistent deciduous tooth, commonly described as a retained baby tooth.

The extra tooth can contribute to crowding, plaque accumulation and an uncomfortable bite.

Book a vet appointment promptly when an adult tooth erupts alongside its baby counterpart. Do not wait months to see whether it sorts itself out or try to pull the baby tooth at home. Your vet can assess whether extraction is needed and protect the developing adult tooth.

Some dogs also develop genuinely extra permanent teeth, called supernumerary teeth. Whether these need treatment depends on their position and effect on oral health.

When should I contact a vet?

Arrange a dental check for an unexplained missing tooth, retained baby tooth, persistent bad breath, red gums or a change in chewing.

Contact the clinic promptly for a broken or loose adult tooth. Seek same-day advice if your dog has facial swelling, obvious mouth pain or difficulty eating or drinking.

Seek emergency care immediately for major mouth or jaw trauma, heavy bleeding or breathing difficulty.

Do not force your dog’s mouth open to count teeth if they are painful, frightened or resisting.

How can I look after my dog’s teeth?

Build a gentle daily brushing routine. Use dog toothpaste and introduce brushing gradually.
Have the mouth checked during routine veterinary visits. Puppies need their developing bite and tooth eruption assessed too.
Choose chewing items carefully. Bones, antlers and other very hard objects can fracture teeth.
Act on changes. New odour, bleeding, swelling or discomfort should not be dismissed as ordinary “dog breath”.

Your vet may recommend an examination under anaesthesia and dental X-rays when a complete assessment is needed. Much of a tooth sits below the gumline.

Common mistakes to avoid

Counting only the visible front teeth: many premolars and molars sit further back.
Assuming adult teeth naturally fall out with age: a loose or newly missing adult tooth needs investigating.
Ignoring a retained baby tooth: early assessment can prevent further problems.
Treating a full set as proof of health: a dog can have all 42 teeth and still have painful dental disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do small dogs have fewer teeth than large dogs?

The normal adult count is still 42. Small dogs have less space in their mouths and can experience crowding, but an unexplained missing tooth should still be assessed.

Do dogs grow new teeth after losing their adult teeth?

No. Dogs normally have two sets: baby teeth followed by permanent teeth. A lost adult tooth does not grow back.

What do numbers such as 108 or 309 mean on a dental report?

Vets often use the modified Triadan system to identify individual teeth. For example, 108 is the permanent right upper fourth premolar, and 309 is the permanent left lower first molar. These numbers help the team record exactly which tooth was examined or treated.

Knowing your dog’s tooth count is useful, but healthy gums, comfortable eating and regular dental care matter just as much. If you are unsure about a missing tooth, a puppy’s developing mouth or the terminology on a dental report, ASK A VET™ can help you understand the next questions to ask your treating vet.