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

By Dr Duncan Houston

Pigs have a surprisingly varied set of teeth. Their front teeth help them bite, their back teeth crush food, and their canine teeth form the tusks people often associate with adult pigs.

Understanding what is normal makes it easier to recognise when a tooth, tusk or change in chewing needs veterinary attention.

Quick answer: A pig’s full adult dentition contains 44 teeth, while the complete baby set contains 28 teeth. Piglets are usually born with eight sharp “needle teeth”. Tusks are canine teeth and are already included in the adult total.

What are a pig’s teeth called?

Pigs have four main types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars and molars. A complete adult mouth contains:

Tooth type	Upper jaw	Lower jaw	Total	Names and positions
Incisors	6	6	12	First, second and third incisors on each side, at the front
Canines	2	2	4	One on each side of each jaw; these form the tusks
Premolars	8	8	16	First to fourth premolars on each side, behind the canines
Molars	6	6	12	First to third molars on each side, at the back
Total	22	22	44

That works out to 11 teeth in each quarter of the mouth: three incisors, one canine, four premolars and three molars.

The first incisor is closest to the middle of the mouth, with the second and third farther out. Pigs have incisors in both jaws, unlike sheep and cattle, which have a dental pad instead of upper incisors.

The premolars and molars are collectively called the cheek teeth. Their rounded chewing surfaces help crush and grind food. This tooth shape is called bunodont and suits an omnivorous animal that eats a variety of foods.

How many baby teeth do piglets have?

A piglet’s complete baby set contains 12 incisors, four canines and 12 premolars. There are no baby molars.

Those 28 teeth do not all appear at birth. The remaining baby teeth emerge during early development, with timing varying between individuals.

The adult total increases because pigs develop four first premolars and 12 molars that have no baby predecessors. The other permanent teeth replace baby teeth.

What are needle teeth?

The eight teeth usually present at birth are four baby canine teeth and four baby third incisors, also called corner incisors. There is one of each in every quarter of the mouth. Their pointed shape gives them the name “needle teeth”.

Sharp needle teeth do not automatically need clipping. In pet piglets, trimming is rarely necessary, and damage from the procedure can include fractured teeth and infection.

If piglets are injuring their mother’s teats or one another, contact a veterinarian. They can assess the injuries, feeding and litter management before deciding whether dental intervention is justified. Do not attempt to clip them yourself.

When do pigs get their adult teeth?

Permanent teeth appear in stages as a pig grows, with a complete adult set generally present by around two years of age. During the changeover, a young pig can have a mixture of baby and adult teeth.

A baby tooth falling out during normal replacement is different from an adult tooth breaking or becoming loose. Avoid assuming that reduced appetite, facial swelling or obvious mouth pain is simply teething.

Are tusks different from teeth?

Tusks are the pig’s canine teeth. Both male and female pigs have canines, although males generally develop more prominent tusks.

Male tusks can keep growing throughout life. Entire males commonly develop them faster than castrated males, but castration does not remove the need to monitor them. Female canines are usually smaller and less conspicuous.

A visible tusk is not automatically a problem. The concern is whether it is growing into the lips or gums, interfering with eating, catching on objects or creating an injury risk. A veterinarian can assess its position and recommend a suitable monitoring or trimming schedule.

Can I trim my pig’s tusks at home?

Tusk trimming should be performed by a veterinarian experienced with pigs. Tusks contain living tissue, and cutting at the wrong level can expose the pulp and cause pain or infection. Crushing tools can fracture the tooth.

Sedation or anaesthesia may be needed for safe examination and treatment. Removing a tusk is a much more involved procedure than shortening it, so extraction is not a routine substitute for trimming.

What if my pig has fewer than 44 teeth?

The number 44 describes the complete adult dental formula. An individual pig may have fewer teeth because some never developed, were lost or were previously extracted.

Research in pet pigs has identified missing first premolars, retained baby teeth, periodontal disease and tooth resorption. A small clinical study cannot tell us how common every problem is across all pigs, but it shows why counting visible teeth is only part of an assessment. Dental X-rays can help distinguish a missing tooth from problems hidden below the gumline.

What signs suggest a dental problem?

Pay attention to changes in how your pig eats, including:

• Dropping food or taking longer to finish meals.

• New difficulty chewing or reluctance to eat.

• Excessive drooling or an unpleasant mouth odour.

• Repeated tooth grinding alongside other signs of discomfort.

• Swelling around the face or jaw, or discharge from the area.

• Weight loss or poor growth.

Tooth root infections and damaged teeth can cause significant discomfort. Grinding alone does not identify the cause, and appetite changes can also come from illnesses outside the mouth.

Contact your veterinarian promptly about these changes. A pig refusing food, showing marked pain or developing facial swelling needs same-day veterinary advice. A piglet unable to suckle also needs prompt help.

Difficulty breathing, major jaw trauma or uncontrolled bleeding requires emergency veterinary care.

How does a veterinarian check a pig’s teeth?

A quick look at the front teeth cannot show the whole mouth. Pigs can be difficult to examine thoroughly while awake, and the back teeth may be hard to see.

A complete examination or dental treatment may require sedation or general anaesthesia. Your veterinarian will assess the teeth, gums and bite, and may recommend dental X-rays to investigate roots and surrounding bone.

How can I look after my pig’s teeth?

Include dental and tusk checks in routine veterinary care, with the frequency tailored to your pig’s age and previous problems. Watch your pig eat regularly so you notice changes early.

Provide a balanced diet formulated for the type and life stage of pig you keep, together with reliable access to fresh water. Keep records of dental findings and tusk treatments so changes can be followed over time.

Check rooting and living areas for sharp debris and small objects that could injure the mouth or be swallowed. Do not force your pig’s mouth open to inspect a painful area. Arrange a veterinary examination if you cannot assess the problem safely.

Do miniature pigs have fewer teeth?

Miniature and potbellied pigs share the normal adult dental formula of 44 teeth. Their smaller body size does not mean they have a different set of tooth types. Individual teeth can still be absent.

Do pigs’ teeth grow back?

Baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, but a lost permanent tooth does not grow back. A growing tusk can lengthen again after trimming because part of the existing tooth remains.

Can you tell a pig’s exact age from its teeth?

Tooth eruption can help estimate the age of a young pig. Once the adult teeth are present, ageing becomes less precise. Birth and ownership records are more reliable than trying to assign an exact age from tooth wear alone.

Unsure whether your pig’s tusks, teeth or eating habits look normal? ASK A VET™ can help you understand what to look for and when an examination is needed. Clear photos and a short video of your pig eating may help with initial advice, but painful teeth and suspected infections need an in-person veterinary assessment.