How many teeth does a dog have?
The adult dog normally has 42 permanent teeth of different size, shape and function including:
- 12 incisors,
- 4 canines,
- 16 premolars,
- 10 molars.
Did you know?
To quantify the number of teeth an animal has and their distribution, the veterinarian uses the dental formula. This representation of the dentition usually designates the number and nature of the teeth on a half-jaw.The dog's dental formula is therefore: I 3/3 + C 1/1 + PM 4/4 + M 2/3. This means that the dog has 3 incisors on the upper half-jaw and 3 on the lower half-jaw (I 3/3), 1 canine on the upper half-jaw and 1 on the lower half-jaw (C 1/1 ), 4 premolars on the upper half-jaw and 4 on the lower half-jaw (PM 4/4) and 2 molars on the upper half-jaw and 3 on the lower half-jaw (M2/3).
Before getting his permanent teeth, the puppy has a deciduous dentition, formed by 28 milk teeth. They appear around their 3th week of life and begin to be replaced by permanent teeth around 3 to 4 months. The dog's permanent teeth are generally complete around 6 to 7 months.
Good to know
There are abnormalities in dental development in dogs that can lead to them having no teeth at all (anodontia), almost no teeth (oligodontia) or sporting a jaw with a few missing teeth ( hypodontia).
Conversely, a dog may have more teeth than normal when his milk teeth do not fall out as they should. This is called the persistence of deciduous teeth.
Dog's teeth
The dog has 4 types of teeth with different morphologies and functions.
Incisors
The incisors in adult dogs are 12 in number. Centered on the front of the mouth, these are teeth that have only one root. They are evenly distributed in an arc whose radius is more or less important depending on the breed of dog.
The dog's incisors are larger at the top than at the bottom. Starting from the center, they are called clamp, dividing and corner. The top corners are the bulkiest so they look like a dog's fangs.
They are used to cut and trim.
The canines
4 in number, the canines are conical, curved teeth with a pointed top. Like the incisors, they have only one root. These are more commonly called fangs or hooks.
Lacerating, they are used to catch and tear.
Premolars
Premolars are teeth that have one to three roots. The premolars closest to the canines have one and the premolars closest to the molars have 3. The 4th premolar in the upper jaw is called the maxillary carnassial.
They are used to cut and tear.
The molars
Molar teeth are grinding teeth. Bulky, they are 10 in number in dogs: 2 at the top and 3 at the bottom. The first molar in the lower jaw is called the mandibular carnassial.
Dog dental occlusion
Dental occlusion, also called dental bite, refers to the relationship between the teeth of the upper jaw and those of the lower jaw. In dogs, the lower jaw is slightly smaller than the upper jaw so that the lower jaw closes over the lower jaw like a box on its lid.
Thus, in a dog with normal dental occlusion, we must observe:
- a "chisel" bite of the incisors: the incisors of the lower jaw are slightly set back from the incisors of the lower jaw but nevertheless remain in contact with the first,
- the lower canine should normally fit between the corner (3rd incisor from the center) and the canine of the upper jaw.
- regular interdigitation of the upper and lower premolars. The upper and lower premolars are staggered but not in contact with each other. The upper premolars are normally placed in front of the lower premolars.
- a scissor bite of the carnivores. The maxillary carnassium (of the upper jaw) must cover most of the mandibular carnassium (of the lower jaw)
There is, however:
- breed variations of a dog's normal bite as described above. In order to know the normal dental occlusion of a dog, it is necessary to refer to the official breed standard of the Fédération Cynologique International,
- various anomalies of dental occlusion in dogs called malocclusions. They can have dental or skeletal causes and can cause aesthetic and/or functional problems.