Baby teeth, why? And when?
The development of primary teeth starts before birth, in the second trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes a newborn can have a tooth as early as birth. The time frame for tooth eruption is an average, there will always be some discrepancy. This fact underscores the importance of regular check ups and x-rays to make sure teeth are erupting in a favourable order.
Time schedule for baby teeth:
| Upper teeth | emerge through gums | tooth falls off |
| Central incisor | 8 – 12 months old | 6 -7 years old |
| Lateral Incisors | 9 – 13 months old | 7 -8 years old |
| Canines | 16 – 22 months old | 10 -12 years old |
| First molar | 13 – 19 months old | 9 – 11 years old |
| Second Molar | 25 – 33 months old | 10 -12 -years |
| Lower tooth | emerge though the gums | tooth falls off |
| Central incisor | 6 – 10 months old | 6 – 7 years old |
| Lateral Incisors | 10 – 16 months old | 7 – 8 years old |
| Canines | 17 – 23 months old | 9 -12 years old |
| First Molar | 14 – 18 months old | 9 – 11 years old |
| Second Molar | 23 -31 months old | 10 -12 years old |
The full set of primary teeth should be in place by the age of 2.5 years to 7 years old. Development of primary teeth affects the development of adult teeth underneath. A missing baby tooth most probably will end up with a missing adult tooth.
– every 6 months, 4 teeth will erupt.
– girls usually get their teeth before boys.
– Lower teeth usually precede upper ones.
– teeth erupt in pairs, left and right.
– Primary teeth are smaller than the adult ones.
So why do we have primary teeth since we will lose them?
The bone-tooth relation is an active one. Teeth are not just setting there and to give us something to chew with. Teeth induce the bone growth and direct it in the right direction. When someone loses a tooth, bone resorbs, so imagine if there were no teeth at all. And their importance is as follows:
– preserve space for adult teeth
– help form the skeletal features of the face.
– help develop speech in the child, with proper phonetics.
– healthy teeth, means baby can chew better, getting better nutrition.
Adult teeth eruption:
Upper teeth
Central incisors: 6 – 8 years old
Lateral Incisors: 8 – 10 years old
Canines 11 – 13 years old
First premolars 10 – 11 years old
Second premolars 10 – 12 years old
Firs molar 6 – 7 years old
Second molar 12 – 13 years old
Third molar (wisdom tooth) 17 – 21 years old
Adult teeth eruption
Lower teeth
Central incisors: 6 – 7 years old
Lateral Incisors: 7 – 8 years old
Canines 9 – 10 years old
First premolars 10 – 12 years old
Second premolars 11 – 12 years old
Firs molar 6 – 7 years old
Second molar 11 – 13 years old
Third molar (wisdom tooth) 17 – 21 years old
Something needs paying attention to, it the time of eruption of the first adult molar, which is around the age of 6. This molar has no baby tooth predecessor, and just erupts. This makes it parents think it is just another baby tooth, and if gets decayed, they say, why not just take it out.
Conclusion:
Eruption schedule can vary. You must appreciate the role of baby teeth. Make sure you consult us regarding the development of your children dentition to make sure everything is ok. Developmental abnormalities can be diagnosed early and treated early.
What is your experience with your kids? when did they show their first tooth?
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