Numerous people are curious whether a canine’s teeth bear a resemblance to that of humans, given the overall structure and functions.
And how many teeth can a dog have pulled?
Here is a simple breakdown of a typical dog’s tooth extraction.
Besides I also provide further details about some underlying reasons behind its teeth pulling, coupled with recovery and aftercare time. Let’s get started!
How Many Teeth Should A Dog Have?
After comprehending this section, you will understand a canine’s tooth structure more, so pay close attention to it!
The Number Of Puppy Teeth
A newly-born puppy does not have teeth, and when it reaches the age of between 3 and 4 months of age, its teeth might show signs of eruption.
Commonly, a baby dog has a total of 28 teeth in its mouth after four to five months from being born onwards.
Many breeds, like small breeds or toy canines, may need more time to develop the full structure of baby teeth.
Some face the problem of retained teeth, which means their teeth just keep staying in their mouth without falling out, as a preparation for adult teeth eruption.
Suppose your dog encounters the same issue; take it to a professional vet immediately.
If left unchecked, this could turn into a more serious problem, like overcrowding or wrong positioning of adult teeth.
The Number Of Adult Dog Teeth
When your canine reaches the adult phase, you will be surprised by its number of 42 permanent teeth, more than a human’s normal 32 teeth.
Typically, the maxilla, widely known as a canine’s upper jaw, has 20 teeth, while the mandible bears a number of 22 teeth in total.
Types Of Teeth
There are four tooth kinds that a common dog grows.
- Incisors are teeth positioned in front of the dog’s mouth.
Their primary function is grabbing objects, grooming, or chewing food, such as bacon and eggs. They are pretty small, and most incisors are attached to only one root.
- Canines are well-developed, with their main function of curving or tearing objects so they better grip. They are the longest teeth in a dog’s mouth’s front and also have one root.
- Premolars are solid. That’s why they are often used to grind up and shear the foods. Unlike the above kinds, the premolars’ root number ranges from one to two, depending on your dog’s breed.
- Molars are located at the back of a dog’s jaw. Their appearance is quite similar to premolars, which mainly help shatter foods into small pieces.
So it is easier for dogs to swallow up and digest. They have about one to three roots.
How Many Teeth Can A Dog Have Pulled?
The answer depends on each period of a dog’s development.
When your dog reaches the adult phase, it will extract nearly all baby teeth, about 28 teeth, and prepare for the adult teeth’s eruption.
Adult teeth are permanent, so they are strong and do not fall out easily without external factors.
So is dog tooth extraction necessary?
Yes, especially when your canine is susceptible to some dental problems, like periodontal diseases or misaligned teeth.
Pulling its teeth is a must in these cases, relieving some signs of pain and protecting its dental health.
My dog once had four teeth pulled because of tooth decay. If not extracted, harmful bacteria will continue destroying its teeth in the long run.
So can my dog have all his teeth removed? The answer is yes, from zero to all 42 wisdom teeth.
You can only rule out this step when you take care of its tooth’s cleaning and always maintain a hygienic condition within its mouth.
By contrast, if you suspect something is wrong with your canine tooth, consult specialists’ advice or take your canine to a veterinary clinic, and qualified doctors will check its overall oral health.
Why Do Your Dog’s Teeth Need To Be Pulled?
Below are some common factors behind your dog’s tooth extraction that you should pay close attention to.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal diseases are mainly the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone, resulting in painful abscesses.
They are usually attributed to improper tooth cleaning or lack of dental procedure.
If your canine catches up with this ailment, their gums will become swollen, and the gum color turns red.
It can even entail a serious infection that jeopardizes your dog’s life. So pulling the diseased teeth is highly recommended in this case.
Trauma
Trauma can wreak havoc on your canine tooth by breaking or even losing them. For instance, it chews some hard objects or gets another injury and damage in its mouth.
These injuries have little repercussions if they are minor.
Yet, they could cause harm to the teeth’s fractures under few circumstances, so it is advisable to pull them out to avert extended damage.
Decayed Tooth
A dog’s teeth are more prone to decay than humans because it uses its mouth more often and for different purposes apart from drinking and eating.
They can use their healthy teeth to grab, carry or pick up objects.
Tooth damage or decay is mainly attributed to bacteria in the mouth, and tooth extraction is a feasible solution to the issue.
Yet, why is it necessary? Let’s check our following section for further information!
Retained Baby Teeth
The problem of retained baby teeth is quite common in many breeds.
This is a pretty nagging matter because, as mentioned earlier, these teeth will hinder the process of adult teeth’s eruption.
That’s why they need to be pulled as soon as possible since long-term effects can be irreversible, including malocclusions, wrong bitings, or the teeth’s misalignment.
Overcrowded Teeth
Many times, some dogs’ mouths are overcrowded with teeth. Due to overcrowding, there seems to be little space between teeth, resulting in a lack of gum tissue.
This could be one of the underlying culprits behind some dental diseases. So to avert these problems, extracting is a viable remedy recommended by many veterinary dentists.
Misaligned Teeth
Instead of growing in a straight line, many teeth develop in different directions.
This misalignment issue causes numerous drawbacks, like acute pain, diminished chewing capacities, or malocclusion.
To eradicate the risks, dental extraction may come in handy.
It helps prevent the mispositioned teeth from rubbing against the mouth’s roof, thereby alleviating the lesions and swellings.
Tooth Fractures
A fractured tooth is dangerous, as the gulp can be exposed when the fracture extends below the gum.
Due to constant exposure to the air, the gulp might fall victim to bacterial infection and consequent pain.
If ignored, the problem of tooth fractures can lead to the pulp’s death and spread toxins to other mouth areas.
Once you notice your canine is undergoing the pain caused, locate the broken teeth and pull them out instantly.
Do Dogs Get Teeth Extractions Because Of Cavities?
Absolutely yes.
Cavities are the number one reason for tooth decay.
Like humans, cavities are often induced by the accumulation of bacteria and take a toll on a canine’s tooth structures and functions in the long run.
If left unchecked, an infected tooth no longer performs its original functions and gets numb.
Consequent is tooth infections, which widely spreads to gums, and pulps and even render necrosis and bruising throughout the whole body.
What About The Canine Tooth Extraction Recovery Time And Aftercare?
After extracting, you should feed your dog a soft food diet, like a moderate portion of dried tomatoes, for about 10 to 14 days.
It is advisable to ensure an adequate intake of food, along with water, avoid rough play and limit access to chew toys.
Pain medication is also necessary after a few days of the finished procedure, which helps disperse antibiotics evenly.
In order to prevent your dog from getting another tooth pulled, you should brush its teeth frequently.
Suppose you cannot clean your canine’s teeth properly.
In that case, you should consult the vet’s specifications and advice or search for reliable information on the Internet about how to undertake a good brushing process for dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens During A Rotten Tooth Extraction Surgery Procedure For Dogs?
Most extractions happen after the initial step of dental cleaning. Then, your dog will take an X-ray test to discover potential problems.
After figuring out the core disease, a vet will perform an extraction surgery.
When completing the oral surgery, he will clean your canine’s mouth, disinfect the already used tools carefully, and give your pooch a root canal therapy.
What Are The Dog Tooth Extraction Costs?
The cost of dog tooth extraction is expensive.
The cost of cleaning and X-rays ranges from 500 to 900 dollars, including labor and equipment costs, such as bloodwork, anesthesia, etc.
The Bottom Line
After reading this article, we hope you can answer the question: How many teeth can a dog have pulled?
28 is the teeth total for baby canines, and this figure increases up to 42 during the adult phase.
More information about some main reasons behind the dog teeth pulling, coupled with caring tips and relevant costs, is thoroughly presented in the post.
Apply these knowledge sources to better prepare for the extraction scenario.
