You can often estimate a dog’s age by looking at its teeth, especially when the dog is a puppy. The timing of baby and permanent teeth coming in provides useful clues about age.
This dog age by teeth chart explains when puppy teeth appear, when adult teeth replace them, and what changes you may see as a dog gets older.
If you already know your dog’s age, you can also use our [Dog Age Calculator] to convert dog years into an estimated human age.
Can You Tell a Dog’s Age by Its Teeth?
Yes, teeth can help estimate a dog’s age, but they cannot usually tell you an exact birthday.
Teeth are most useful for estimating the age of puppies and young dogs because their teeth appear and are replaced at fairly predictable stages. Most puppies begin developing baby teeth during the first few weeks of life, while permanent teeth start appearing at around 4 to 5 months.
By about 7 months, most dogs have their full set of permanent teeth.
For adult dogs, estimating age from teeth becomes less precise. Veterinarians may consider tooth wear, tartar, staining, gum health, and other physical characteristics along with the dog’s teeth.
Dog Age by Teeth Chart
Use this chart as a general guide for estimating a dog’s age from tooth development.
| Dog age | What you may see in the teeth | Age clue |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 weeks | No visible teeth | Puppies are normally born without visible teeth |
| 3–5 weeks | Baby incisors and other baby teeth begin appearing | Early puppy stage |
| 5–8 weeks | Most or all baby teeth are present | Puppy has a full set of baby teeth |
| 3–4 months | Baby teeth begin being replaced | Permanent teeth start appearing |
| 4–5 months | More permanent incisors and other adult teeth appear | Active teething stage |
| 5–6 months | Canines, premolars, and molars continue erupting | Most adult teeth developing |
| 6–7 months | Most permanent teeth should be present | Young dog |
| 7+ months | Full adult dentition is normally present | Adult teeth established |
| Adult years | Wear, staining, tartar, and dental condition vary | Age estimate becomes less precise |
These ranges are averages rather than exact rules. Individual dogs can develop at somewhat different rates.
Puppy Teeth Pictures: What to Look For
When checking a puppy’s teeth, look for the transition from small, sharp baby teeth to larger permanent teeth.
1. Very Young Puppy: About 0–3 Weeks
Newborn puppies normally do not have visible teeth. The first deciduous, or baby, teeth begin erupting during the first few weeks of life.
Merck Veterinary Manual lists the first deciduous incisors in dogs as typically erupting at about 4–5 weeks, with some other deciduous teeth appearing around the same period.
At this stage, teeth are not a useful way to distinguish very small differences in age.
2. Puppy With Baby Teeth: About 4–8 Weeks
By roughly 5–6 weeks, puppies generally have their full set of baby teeth.
A puppy normally has 28 deciduous teeth. These teeth are smaller and sharper than the permanent teeth that eventually replace them.
If you look inside a puppy’s mouth during this stage, you may notice:
- Small, sharp front teeth
- Pointed canine teeth
- Small premolars
- No full set of adult molars
This is one of the easiest stages for using teeth to estimate a puppy’s approximate age.
3. Teething Puppy: About 3–5 Months
This is the stage when many puppies begin losing their baby teeth and developing permanent teeth.
Permanent teeth generally begin appearing at around 4–5 months, although the exact timing can vary between individual dogs and breeds.
You may notice:
- Loose baby teeth
- Missing small puppy teeth
- Larger permanent teeth appearing
- Increased chewing
- Adult canine teeth developing
- Small spots of blood on chew toys
It is also possible not to find the baby teeth after they fall out because puppies may swallow them.
4. Young Dog With Adult Teeth: About 6–7 Months
By around 6–7 months, most dogs should have their permanent teeth.
An adult dog normally has 42 permanent teeth, compared with 28 deciduous teeth in a puppy.
The permanent teeth are larger and stronger than puppy teeth. They include:
- 12 incisors
- 4 canine teeth
- 16 premolars
- 10 molars
At this point, teeth can still provide a useful indication that a dog is a young dog, but they become less reliable for determining an exact age.
Dog Teeth Age Chart by Tooth Type
Different types of teeth appear at different times.
| Tooth type | Baby teeth | Typical permanent tooth timing |
|---|---|---|
| Incisors | About 4–5 weeks | About 4 months |
| Canines | About 3–4 weeks | About 5–6 months |
| Premolars | About 4–6 weeks | About 5–6 months |
| Molars | Not part of the baby set | About 4–6 months |
These are approximate eruption ranges and can vary between dogs. Merck’s veterinary reference gives average eruption times for individual teeth rather than one exact age for every dog.
How to Identify a Dog’s Incisors, Canines, Premolars and Molars
Knowing the different types of dog teeth makes a tooth-age chart easier to understand.
Incisors
Incisors are the small teeth at the very front of the mouth.
Dogs have six upper and six lower permanent incisors, for 12 total. They are used primarily for grasping and nibbling.
Canines
Canine teeth are the long, pointed teeth immediately beside the incisors.
Dogs have four permanent canine teeth: two upper and two lower.
Premolars
Premolars sit behind the canine teeth. They help dogs cut and chew food.
Molars
Molars are located toward the back of the mouth. They are larger and are involved in grinding food.
Dogs have 10 permanent molars.
How to Estimate a Puppy’s Age From Its Teeth
If you are trying to estimate a puppy’s age, start by checking whether it has baby teeth, permanent teeth, or a mixture of both.
Step 1: Check for visible teeth
A newborn puppy normally has no visible teeth.
Step 2: Look for baby teeth
Small, sharp teeth usually indicate that the puppy is in the early teething stage.
Step 3: Check for missing or loose teeth
A puppy between roughly 3 and 6 months may be losing baby teeth as permanent teeth erupt.
Step 4: Look for adult teeth
Larger permanent teeth indicate that the dog is progressing through the teething stage.
Step 5: Check the whole mouth
Do not estimate age from one tooth alone. Look at the entire mouth and consider the dog’s overall development.
Can You Tell the Age of an Adult Dog by Its Teeth?
You can sometimes estimate the age of an adult dog from its teeth, but the estimate is much less precise than it is for puppies.
As dogs age, their teeth may develop:
- Surface wear
- Staining
- Tartar buildup
- Gum changes
- Changes caused by dental disease
However, these signs vary considerably between individual dogs.
Merck Veterinary Manual notes that dental wear can be affected by factors such as chewing behavior, hard objects, treats, and the dog’s bite. Because of this variation, tooth wear alone cannot provide an exact age.
The American Kennel Club also notes that veterinarians may examine teeth to help approximate a dog’s age, while considering other physical characteristics.
Dog Age by Teeth Pictures: What Changes With Age?
When comparing dog teeth pictures, the most useful differences are usually seen during puppyhood.
Young puppy: Small, sharp deciduous teeth.
Teething puppy: Mixture of baby and permanent teeth as adult teeth replace the puppy teeth.
Young adult: Full set of permanent teeth.
Older adult: More variable wear, staining, tartar, or other dental changes.
Remember that a photograph alone cannot reliably determine the exact age of an adult dog. A veterinarian can provide a more informed estimate by examining the teeth and other physical characteristics.
Puppy Teeth vs. Adult Dog Teeth
One of the easiest ways to distinguish a puppy from a young adult is to look at the number and appearance of teeth.
| Feature | Puppy teeth | Adult teeth |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Usually 28 | Usually 42 |
| Appearance | Small and very sharp | Larger and stronger |
| Development | Begin during early puppyhood | Replace baby teeth |
| Molars | Not present in the baby set | Present |
| Timing | Mostly present by about 6 weeks | Mostly present by about 7 months |
Dogs have two sets of teeth during their lives: deciduous teeth and permanent teeth.
What If a Puppy Has Baby and Adult Teeth at the Same Time?
Sometimes a permanent tooth starts growing while the corresponding baby tooth remains in place. This can create what looks like two teeth occupying the same position.
Persistent baby teeth can cause dental problems, particularly when they crowd the permanent teeth. If you notice a puppy tooth remaining next to an adult tooth, ask your veterinarian to examine it rather than trying to remove it yourself.
Can Teeth Tell You the Exact Age of a Dog?
No. Teeth can provide an age estimate, not an exact birth date.
Dental development is especially useful for puppies because tooth eruption follows a relatively predictable pattern. Once a dog is fully mature, individual differences in dental wear, diet, chewing habits, dental disease, and other factors make age estimation less precise.
If you adopted a dog with an unknown history, a veterinarian can combine dental examination with other clues such as body condition, eyes, coat, and overall physical development.
Dog Age by Teeth vs. Dog Age Calculator
A tooth chart and a dog age calculator answer slightly different questions.
A dog age by teeth chart helps estimate how old a dog might be based on dental development.
A dog age calculator converts a known or estimated dog age into an approximate human-equivalent age.
For example, if your veterinarian estimates that your rescued dog is about 6 months old, you can enter that age into a dog age calculator to explore its approximate human-equivalent life stage.
Try our [Dog Age Calculator] to calculate your dog’s estimated human age.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell my dog’s age by its teeth?
Look at whether your dog has baby teeth, permanent teeth, or a mixture of both. Puppy teeth begin appearing during the first weeks of life, while permanent teeth generally begin appearing around 4–5 months and are usually present by about 7 months.
What age do puppies get their adult teeth?
Permanent teeth generally begin erupting at around 4–5 months. Most dogs have their full set of permanent teeth by approximately 7 months, although individual timing can vary.
How many teeth does a puppy have?
A puppy normally has 28 deciduous, or baby, teeth.
How many teeth does an adult dog have?
Most adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth. These consist of incisors, canine teeth, premolars, and molars.
Can you tell a dog’s age by its teeth pictures?
Pictures can help you compare the general appearance of puppy and adult teeth, but they cannot reliably determine an exact age. A veterinary examination is more useful, particularly for adult dogs.
Can you tell the age of an older dog by its teeth?
You can sometimes estimate an older dog’s age from tooth wear and other dental changes, but the estimate is less reliable than it is for puppies. Dental wear varies between individual dogs.
When do puppies lose their baby teeth?
Puppies generally begin replacing baby teeth with permanent teeth during the first several months of life. Permanent teeth commonly start appearing around 4–5 months.
What should I do if my puppy has two teeth in the same place?
A retained baby tooth can interfere with normal dental development. Have your veterinarian examine the puppy rather than attempting to pull the tooth yourself.
Final Takeaway
A dog age tooth chart is most useful for puppies and young dogs. The appearance and eruption of teeth can provide valuable clues, especially during the transition from 28 baby teeth to 42 permanent teeth.
For adult dogs, tooth wear and staining become much more variable, so teeth should be treated as one part of an overall age estimate rather than an exact age test.
If you know your dog’s approximate age, use our Dog Age Calculator to convert dog years into an estimated human age.