Adult dogs typically have 42 permanent teeth in total, with 20 teeth on the upper jaw (maxilla) and 22 teeth on the lower jaw (mandible)
. This includes:
- 12 incisors (6 upper, 6 lower)
- 4 canines (2 upper, 2 lower)
- 16 premolars (8 upper, 8 lower)
- 10 molars (4 upper, 6 lower)
Puppies, by contrast, have 28 deciduous (baby) teeth, which are replaced by the adult teeth typically between 3 to 7 months of age
. Some exceptions exist, such as the Chow Chow breed, which may have 44 adult teeth
. Missing or broken teeth in adult dogs can reduce this number, but 42 is the standard count for healthy adult dogs across most breeds.
