Dog Dental Chart
A complete dog dental chart: all 42 adult teeth named and numbered the way your vet does it, the teeth-to-age guide, and a dental health scale so you know what you're looking at.
The 42 adult teeth
| Tooth type | Upper jaw | Lower jaw | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incisors | 6 | 6 | Nibbling, grooming, picking things up |
| Canines | 2 | 2 | Gripping and holding |
| Premolars | 8 | 8 | Shearing and tearing |
| Molars | 4 | 6 | Grinding |
| Total | 20 | 22 | 42 teeth |
The largest and most important are the carnassial teeth — the upper fourth premolar (tooth 108/208) and lower first molar (309/409). They shear like scissors, take the most force, and are the teeth most commonly fractured by hard chews.
Triadan numbering — reading a vet dental chart
| Quadrant | Numbers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Upper right | 101–110 | 104 = upper right canine |
| Upper left | 201–210 | 208 = upper left carnassial |
| Lower left | 301–311 | 309 = lower left carnassial |
| Lower right | 401–411 | 404 = lower right canine |
Within each quadrant the numbering runs from the midline backward: 01–03 are incisors, 04 is the canine, 05–08 premolars, and 09+ molars. If your vet's notes say "extracted 108," now you know exactly which tooth.
Dental health scale
| Stage | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0 — Healthy | White teeth, pink gums, no smell | Brush regularly to keep it here |
| 1 — Gingivitis | Slight redness at the gum line, mild breath | Reversible with brushing and a clean |
| 2 — Early periodontal | Visible tartar, red gums, bad breath | Professional clean recommended |
| 3 — Moderate | Heavy tartar, receding gums, possible bleeding | Clean with likely extractions |
| 4 — Advanced | Loose teeth, pus, significant pain | Urgent veterinary treatment |
Dental disease isn't only a mouth problem: bacteria from advanced periodontal disease enter the bloodstream and are associated with heart, liver and kidney damage. It's also painful in a way dogs hide well — many owners report their dog "acting like a puppy again" after treatment.
Estimating age from teeth
| Appearance | Approximate age |
|---|---|
| All 42 adult teeth, brilliantly white | 7 months – 1 year |
| Slight dulling, minor tartar on back teeth | 1–3 years |
| Tartar on most teeth, some wear on incisors | 3–5 years |
| Noticeable wear, gum recession, heavier tartar | 5–10 years |
| Significant wear, possible missing teeth | 10+ years |
For puppies the timeline is far more precise — see thepuppy teeth chart — and for the size-adjusted age conversion, the dog age chart.
Keeping teeth healthy
- Brushing is the gold standard — daily ideally, three times a week minimum, with dog toothpaste (never human toothpaste; xylitol is toxic).
- VOHC-approved chews and additives help when brushing isn't happening, though they don't replace it.
- Avoid antlers, hooves and hard bones. The rule of thumb: if you can't dent it with a thumbnail, it can fracture a carnassial tooth.
- Annual dental checks from age two, and don't be surprised if a professional clean under anaesthetic is recommended — it's the only way to clean below the gum line.
Frequently asked questions
How many teeth does a dog have?+
Adult dogs have 42 teeth — 20 on the top jaw and 22 on the bottom. That is ten more than humans. Puppies have 28 baby teeth and no molars at all.
How do vets number dog teeth?+
Using the modified Triadan system: each quadrant gets a hundreds digit (1 = upper right, 2 = upper left, 3 = lower left, 4 = lower right), then teeth are numbered from the midline back. So tooth 104 is the upper right canine — the number you will see on a dental chart at the vet.
What are the signs of dental disease in dogs?+
Bad breath is the earliest and most ignored sign. Others: yellow-brown tartar at the gum line, red or bleeding gums, dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth, and loose teeth. By age three, most dogs have some degree of periodontal disease.
Can you tell a dog’s age from their teeth?+
Roughly, and it is more reliable in young dogs than old ones. Bright white full adult teeth suggest under a year; slight tartar 1–3 years; noticeable tartar and wear 3–5; significant wear and possible missing teeth 5–10 and beyond. Diet and chewing habits blur the picture in older dogs.