Bearded Dragon Teeth: The Essential Anatomy and Biology

Oooo yes, bearded dragons have teeth! In fact, their teeth are quite unique. From chomping on insects to biting into veggies, their teeth are perfectly suited for their omnivorous diet.

What sets bearded dragon teeth apart from many other animals is their diversity. They have two distinct types of teeth, each with its own role. Some teeth are built to last a lifetime, while others regenerate as needed.

This is part 1 of a 4 part series on bearded dragons teeth:

Bearded Dragon Teeth: The Essential Anatomy and Biology ⏪you are here
How to Clean Bearded Dragons Teeth: A Simple Guide
Problems with Bearded Dragons Teeth & How to Fix Them
Mouth Rot in Bearded Dragons: What It Is and What Can I Do For It?

What Type of Teeth do Bearded Dragons Have?

Bearded dragons have two different types of teeth — and that combination helps them handle everything from crunchy insects to soft greens. Unlike most mammals, which usually have just one kind of tooth attachment, bearded dragons are equipped with both permanent and replaceable teeth — and where each type sits makes a big difference.

Here’s how our bearded dragons teeth work:

Fixed teeth at the back (Acrodont Teeth): Bearded dragons have a unique setup at the back of their jaws. Their acrodont teeth are permanently fused to the top edge of the jawbone — there are no sockets. This makes them sturdy and stable, perfect for gripping and crushing food (Haridy, 2018).
But there’s a catch: acrodont teeth don’t grow back. Once formed, they stay in place for life — and if they’re damaged or lost, that’s it. No second chances (Salomies, 2022; Cooper et al., 1970).
Acrodont teeth make up most of the bearded dragon’s dental line. They’re strong, but also vulnerable: because they fuse directly to the jawbone, any break or infection can spread deep into the bone if not treated early.
Replaceable teeth at the front (Pleurodont Teeth): At the front of the mouth, bearded dragons have pleurodont teeth — a more flexible, replaceable setup. These teeth are anchored along the inner side of the jaw, not fused on top like acrodont teeth. That design allows them to fall out and be replaced as the jaw grows or as older teeth wear out (Salomies, 2022).
Bearded dragons only have a few pleurodont teeth — but they play an important role in gripping and positioning food.
Unlike mammals, these teeth aren’t tucked into deep sockets. Instead, they’re held in place by connective tissue along the jaw wall (Salomies et al., 2019). Replacement happens continuously in healthy bearded dragons, keeping their front bite efficient and sharp (Gregory, 2023; Warren, 2020).

close up image of a bearded dragons teeth showing the position of the permanent (acrodont) and replaceable (pleurodont) teeth — This image of bearded dragons teeth clearly shows the position of the permanent (acrodont) teeth and the position for the replaceable pleurodont teeth at the front of its jaws.

What Do Bearded Dragons’ Teeth Look Like?

Bearded dragon teeth vary in shape depending on their position in the mouth. The front teeth (pleurodont) are often slim and conical, while the back teeth (acrodont) are broader, more triangular or pyramidal in shape, and can appear worn or flattened with age. Together, this mix gives them a dentition suited for gripping, tearing, and crushing a wide variety of foods — from insects to leafy greens (LafeberVet, 2018; Haridy, 2018).

Bearded dragons have two distinct types of tooth attachment. At the front of the mouth, their pleurodont teeth sit slightly to the inside edge of the jaw — which helps grip and manipulate food. Further back, their acrodont teeth are fused directly to the crest of the jawbone, providing a stable crushing surface. This mixed arrangement gives them the flexibility to handle both soft vegetation and hard-shelled insects (Cooper et al., 1970; Salomies et al., 2019).

Are Bearded Dragon Teeth Sharp?

Yes — bearded dragon teeth can be surprisingly sharp, especially at the front of the mouth. This makes them ideal for gripping and tearing food. This sharpness comes in handy when catching insects or biting into tougher vegetation (Salomies, 2022). While their bites are not venomous or aggressive by nature, they are sharp enough to break human skin, and in rare cases, even damage fingernails if the bite is forceful enough. Bite force of bearded dragons here.

The acrodont teeth, located further back in the mouth, are fused directly to the crest of the jawbone and are never replaced (Haridy, 2018). Over time, especially in older bearded dragons, these teeth often become worn down — sometimes to the point of being nearly flat. While not as sharp as the front teeth, their placement and structure suggest a role in gripping or processing food before swallowing.

image of a wild bearded dragons teeth, its mouth wide open displaying a complete set of well formed teeth — Wild bearded dragon displaying his complete set of well formed and clean teeth. The teeth along the left and right of the jaw bone are permanent acrodont while the front teeth are replaceable pleurodont teeth.

Do Bearded Dragons Teeth Grow Back if they are Lost or Damaged?

Whether a bearded dragons teeth grow back depends on which teeth we’re talking about.

The permanent teeth at the back of a bearded dragon’s mouth — called acrodont teeth — do not grow back if they’re lost, damaged, or worn down (Salomies, 2022; Haridy, 2018). Once they’re gone, that’s it.

But the pleurodont teeth at the front of the mouth are replaceable. These teeth can fall out and regrow multiple times as your bearded dragon grows and ages (Salomies et al., 2019).

bearded dragons teeth wear down — Bearded dragons teeth wear down as they age. a) a young bearded dragons teeth. b) an adult bearded dragons teeth wearing down. Note that it isn’t easy to differentiate the teeth from the bone as it appears in the diagram.

Baby Bearded Dragons Have Teeth

Yes, baby bearded dragons have teeth from the moment they hatch! Our beardies are born ready to tackle their first meals with a surprisingly effective dental setup.

Baby bearded dragons come equipped with eight acrodont teeth on each side of both the upper and lower jaws. These teeth are fused to the top edge of the jawbone and shaped for gripping and crushing, not cutting (Razmadze et al., 2024). These teeth are firmly fused to the top edge of the jawbone and shaped for gripping and crushing, not cutting (Razmadze et al., 2024).

In addition to these permanent teeth, hatchlings have 4 pleurodont teeth at the front of the mouth: 3 in the lower jaw and 1 in the upper jaw. These teeth can be shed and regrown as the jaw grows, helping young bearded dragons keep their bite sharp and functional through rapid growth (Razmadze et al., 2024).

They are also born with an egg tooth that helps them break out of the egg. Within a few days of life, the egg tooth falls off. Later, a regular pleurodont tooth grows in the middle of the upper jaw (on the premaxilla), forming part of their permanent dental structure (Razmadze et al., 2024).

As bearded dragons grow, their jaws expand — and their teeth adapt. That means they don’t just replace worn front teeth — they may also add new pleurodont teeth to fill the extra space in their growing jawbone. It’s like upgrading your toolbox as the projects get bigger (Razmadze et al., 2024; Salomies, 2022).

Pleurodont teeth are located at the front of the mouth. They can fall out and regrow — and new ones may be added as the jaw gets longer.
Acrodont teeth are fused to the top edge of the jaw and are never replaced. They don’t grow back if lost, and they tend to wear down with age.

To summarise, baby bearded dragons have 37 teeth on hatching broken down as follows:

Upper Jaw:

8 acrodont teeth per side (total of 16)
1 pleurodont tooth (on the premaxilla)
1 temporary egg tooth (centrally located, falls off soon after hatching)

Lower Jaw:

8 acrodont teeth per side (total of 16)
3 pleurodont teeth (at the front of the dentary bones)

As their jaws grow, bearded dragons may develop more pleurodont teeth at the front to fill the space (Razmadze et al., 2024). But acrodont teeth are formed early in life and are never replaced — they are set once during development and wear down over time (Salomies et al., 2019; Haridy, 2018).

Bearded Dragons Egg Tooth

To break out of their eggs, hatchling bearded dragons have a specialised tooth called the egg tooth. It’s a curved, temporary structure that acts like a built-in can opener, helping them crack through the shell and begin life on their own. The egg tooth falls off shortly after hatching. Later, a regular pleurodont tooth grows in the centre of the upper jaw (on the premaxilla), but it’s not the same tooth reused — it’s part of the bearded dragon’s natural dental development (Razmadze et al., 2024; Salomies, 2022).

image of a western bearded dragon with its mouth open showing its teeth — This juvenile bearded dragons teeth are in good condition and not yet showing wear. (Pogona minor – western bearded dragon)

How Many Teeth Do Adult Bearded Dragons Have?

Bearded dragons don’t have a fixed number of teeth for life. They hatch with fewer — and as their jaws grow, their dental setup expands to match (Salomies et al., 2019; Razmadze et al., 2024).

So how many teeth does an adult bearded dragon actually have?

When scientists dig into the details, they find the number can vary (Haridy, 2018) because :

Jaw size and individual growth
How many pleurodont teeth have been added or lost
How much wear or erosion the acrodont teeth have undergone

Here’s what the science says:

Adult bearded dragons have 16 acrodont teeth on the upper jaw and 16 on the bottom — 32 in total. These are fused to the top edge of the jaw and never replaced (Razmadze et al., 2024).
They may also have up to 11 pleurodont teeth in total at the front of the mouth (Salomies, 2022). These teeth are replaced slowly over time, and the odd tooth is in the upper jaw — where the egg tooth was replaced (Salomies, 2022).

So, a healthy adult bearded dragon may have around 43 functional teeth — though the number can vary slightly depending on wear, age, and growth. The reason the number varies is because:

Older bearded dragons often show heavy wear, especially on the back acrodont teeth (Haridy, 2018)
Some teeth may be partially resorbed or worn to the gumline and hard to count
Growth patterns differ — and so does diet

What Dental Problems Do Silkback Bearded Dragons have to Deal with?

Silkback (or scaleless) bearded dragons face more than just sensitive skin — they also show some unusual dental features. These differences are caused by a mutation in a key developmental gene known as EDA (ectodysplasin A), which influences how the body forms skin, glands, and even teeth (Razmadze et al., 2024).

Problems with Silkback Bearded Dragons Teeth

Because of a mutation in the EDA (ectodysplasin-A) gene, silkback bearded dragons often develop abnormal tooth patterns that affect both the number and shape of their teeth (Razmadze, Salomies, & Di-Poï, 2024).

Here’s what the research shows:

Missing or delayed upper teeth. Silkbacks frequently lack pleurodont teeth in the premaxilla (upper front jaw), or these teeth appear much later than in typical bearded dragons (Razmadze et al., 2024, p. 6).
Lower front teeth change shape and identity. The first dentary tooth in silkbacks may grow larger and resemble an acrodont tooth — a developmental shift never seen before in vertebrates (Razmadze et al., 2024, pp. 6–7).
Altered size or spacing of back teeth. Some acrodont teeth along the lower jaw show changes in size or spacing, though the total number of teeth does not increase (Razmadze et al., 2024, p. 7).

Final Thoughts on Bearded Dragons’ Teeth

Bearded dragon teeth offer a fascinating glimpse into their adaptability and evolutionary design. With a dual dental system — permanent acrodont teeth at the back and replaceable pleurodont teeth at the front — they’re equipped to tackle everything from leafy greens to crunchy insects.

Throughout this article, we followed the journey from hatchlings using their egg tooth to break free, to juveniles growing new pleurodont teeth as their jaws expand, to adults managing wear and maintaining function with a fixed set of acrodont teeth.

And while most of what we know comes from standard genetics, selective breeding — like in scaleless bearded dragons — reminds us that even dental traits can shift under human influence. It’s one more reason why understanding their biology helps us provide better care.

More posts on bearded dragons anatomy and biology here.

References

Cooper, J. S., Poole, D. F. G., & Lawson, R. (1970). The dentition of agamid lizards with special reference to tooth replacement. Journal of Zoology, 162(1), 85–98.
Cosgrove, N. (2024, August 7). Do Bearded Dragons Have Teeth? Interesting Facts & Care Tips | PangoVet. PangoVet.
Gregory, A. (2023, February 23). An overview of dental disease in bearded dragons. Veterinary Practice.
Haridy, Y. (2018). Histological analysis of post-eruption tooth wear adaptations, and ontogenetic changes in tooth implantation in the acrodontan squamate Pogona vitticeps. PeerJ, 6, e5923.
Razmadze, D., Salomies, L., & Di-Poï, N. (2024). Squamates as a model to understand key dental features of vertebrates. Developmental Biology, 498, 1–15
S.A. Hocknull. (2002). Comparative maxillary and dentary morphology of the Australian dragons (Agamidae: Squamata): A framework for fossil identification. Queensland Museum, 48(1), 125–145.
Salomies, L. (2022). Development and evolution of tooth renewal and dental formula in squamate reptiles [Doctoral Dissertation].
Salomies, L., Eymann, J., Khan, I., & Di-Poï, N. (2019). The alternative regenerative strategy of bearded dragon unveils the key processes underlying vertebrate tooth renewal. ELife, 8.
Warren, R. (2020, March 17). Bearded Dragon’s Oral Diseases Treated. School of Veterinary Medicine.