The teething process is an important part of a puppy’s development as their baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent adult teeth. Generally, dogs have 28 permanent teeth, with puppies initially having a set of 28 deciduous (baby) teeth. The puppy teeth begin to erupt around 3-4 weeks of age, and by 6-7 weeks, the puppy will have all of his puppy teeth. The teething process continues as the permanent adult teeth start replacing the puppy teeth around 4 months old. This process usually lasts until the puppy is about 6-7 months old when all of the deciduous teeth should have fallen out and been replaced by the stronger adult teeth. Understanding the teething timeline helps owners know what to expect during this transitional period.
Puppy Teeth
Puppies are born without any teeth. They develop their first set of teeth, known as deciduous or “baby” teeth, between 2-4 weeks old. According to the VCA Animal Hospital, puppies have a total of 28 deciduous teeth that eventually fall out as their adult teeth grow in [1]. These include:
- 12 incisors (6 upper, 6 lower)
- 4 canines (2 upper, 2 lower)
- 12 premolars (6 upper, 6 lower)
The deciduous teeth help puppies chew and tear food while their jaws are still developing. They also serve as placeholders for the larger, stronger permanent adult teeth that will eventually replace them.
Adult Teeth
When puppies are around 3-4 months old, they begin to lose their baby teeth as the permanent adult teeth start growing in. After all the puppy teeth are replaced, adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth (Source).
Adult dogs have 20 permanent teeth in the upper jaw and 22 permanent teeth in the lower jaw. The upper jaw teeth include 4 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars, and 6 molars. The lower jaw teeth include 6 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars, and 6 molars (Source).
Having 42 permanent adult teeth allows dogs to fully chew and break down food as they age. Proper dental care is still required for adult dogs to prevent tartar buildup, gum disease, and tooth decay.
Teething Stages
Puppies begin teething around 3-4 weeks old when their milk teeth start to erupt. The incisors are usually the first adult teeth to come in, starting at around 3-5 months old. Next the canines will start coming in between 4-6 months old. The premolars emerge around 4-5 months old and the molars between 5-7 months old. Typically, all of the puppy teeth will have fallen out by around 6 months old as the permanent adult teeth push them out.
According to the AKC, the order in which puppies lose their teeth is incisors first, the canines, then premolars and finally the molars. The very last teeth to fall out are usually the upper corner incisor teeth between 5-8 months old.
Some sources say that smaller breeds tend to teeth earlier, while larger breeds teeth later. But most puppies have all their adult teeth between 5-7 months old. It’s important to monitor teething and make sure all the puppy teeth fall out properly to avoid issues with the permanent teeth coming in.
Incisors
Incisors are the first set of puppy teeth to fall out, usually starting around 12-16 weeks of age. The incisors are the small front teeth located on the upper and lower jaws. Puppies have 28 baby incisors total, with six incisors on the top jaw and six on the bottom. The two teeth located closest to the middle on each side are referred to as the central incisors, while the teeth flanking them on either side are called the lateral incisors.
The incisors are used for nibbling and biting off pieces of food. Since puppies do a lot of nibbling and chewing as their adult teeth grow in, the incisors are often the first set of teeth they lose. Owners will notice the incisors becoming loose and eventually falling out as the permanent incisors erupt.
According to sources (Pumpkin, 2023), the puppy incisors typically fall out between 12-16 weeks of age. However, the time frame may vary depending on the individual puppy. Some incisors may fall out as early as 11 weeks, while others may take until 20 weeks of age. In general, larger breed puppies tend to teethe earlier than smaller breeds. Owners can monitor their puppy’s mouth for loose incisors during this period.
Canines
The canine teeth are next to fall out, typically around 16-20 weeks of age. The canine deciduous teeth are located on the top and bottom of a puppy’s mouth, next to the incisors. There are four upper and four lower canine teeth. These are commonly referred to as the “fangs.”
According to PetMD, the upper canine teeth generally fall out between 4-6 months of age. The lower canine teeth may fall out a little later between 5-7 months of age. This is because the lower canine teeth have more extensive root structures than the upper canine teeth. Therefore, it takes a little longer for the lower canine teeth to detach.
As the permanent canine teeth grow in, it pushes the roots of the deciduous canine teeth up. This loosens them until they detach and fall out on their own or with a little help from chewing. It is normal for some blood to be present when the canine teeth fall out. The incoming permanent canine teeth quickly fill in the gaps.
Puppies may drool more and have difficulty eating during canine teething. Providing chew toys can help relieve discomfort. Most puppies lose their canine teeth with little trouble. However, sometimes the deciduous teeth do not detach as expected and may need to be extracted by a veterinarian. This is more likely with the lower canine teeth since the roots are more embedded.
Premolars
Premolars, sometimes referred to as bicuspids, are located behind the canine teeth. Puppies have a total of 12 premolars – six upper and six lower premolars. The premolars help puppies transition from soft puppy food and milk to adult dog food by helping them chew and grind food.1
The premolar teeth begin to erupt at around 16-20 weeks of age. Typically, the lower premolars come in slightly earlier than the upper premolars. By five to six months of age, all of the premolars should be fully erupted through the gums.2
Premolars are one of the last sets of puppy teeth to fall out, usually around 20-24 weeks of age. As the permanent premolars erupt, they push out the deciduous premolars. The upper premolars are often the very last puppy teeth to fall out.
Molars
Molars are the last puppy teeth to fall out, typically around 24-30 weeks of age. According to the AKC, the last teeth to come in are the adult molars, which emerge between 5-7 months. The adult molars will replace the deciduous molars between 6-7 months old (PetMD, 2023).
The molars, located furthest back in a dog’s mouth, are used for chewing and grinding food. They have a flat surface which is ideal for this purpose. The deciduous molars are gradually pushed out by the developing permanent adult molars emerging behind them (VCA Animal Hospitals).
Since molars are the last teeth to erupt as puppies, they will be the last puppy teeth to fall out, usually around 6 months old but sometimes as late as 7 months. These late-falling molars are often the “double molars” which are the last deciduous teeth present prior to the adult teeth taking over the jaws (AKC).
Complications
One common complication with puppy teeth is retained deciduous teeth, also known as persistent puppy teeth or retained baby teeth. This occurs when the permanent adult teeth erupt alongside the deciduous puppy teeth, which fail to fall out as intended. According to VCA Hospitals, retained deciduous teeth are more prone to periodontal disease which can lead to infections. Additionally, retained teeth can make it difficult for permanent teeth to erupt properly, causing malocclusion.
There are a few solutions for retained puppy teeth. Extraction by a veterinarian is usually necessary, especially if the retained teeth are loose or preventing permanent teeth from erupting. The extracted retained teeth should eventually get replaced by permanent teeth. According to WellPets, some retained incisors and premolars that accumulated tartar may require extraction to prevent periodontal disease. Regular dental cleanings can also remove tartar from retained puppy teeth. Monitoring for signs of complications is important.
Conclusion
In summary, monitoring your puppy’s teething process is crucial for ensuring proper dental development and overall health. The baby teeth start coming out around 3-4 months old, with the molars being the very last to fall out around 5-7 months old. It’s important to keep an eye on your puppy’s mouth during this time to make sure teeth are emerging properly and no puppy teeth are retained, as this can lead to problems like tooth decay and misaligned bites. Providing chew toys can help soothe your puppy’s gums but supervision is still required. Regular veterinary checkups will allow early identification of any dental issues. By staying informed and vigilantly monitoring your puppy’s teething, you can ensure they develop a healthy mouth that will serve them throughout life.
