Baby teeth, or what dentists call primary dentition, play a crucial role in a child’s overall growth and development. In fact, it can even be possible to predict whether a child will need braces or not solely based on their baby teeth. This comprehensive guide aims to shed light on the intricacies of primary dentition to help parents better understand and care for their children’s teeth. This includes when baby teeth erupt into the mouth if they’re coming into the mouth the right way, and what to do about it.
Baby Teeth Chart
The development of baby teeth begins in utero, aka in the womb, and continues long after a baby is born. Since this development is only visible to dental X-rays, parents can instead track the time at which the tooth is visible in the mouth, known as eruption timing. HOWEVER, baby teeth charts are just typical growth; just because some teeth come out later than usual, doesn’t mean you should worry. We’ll talk more about that later…
Here are the most common things to look out for:
- Typically, the front teeth will erupt into the mouth first (with some notable exceptions)
- Teeth that are mirror images of each other will erupt at the same time
- Lower teeth usually emerge before their upper counterparts.
| Tooth Type | Eruption Timing (Months) |
|---|---|
| Lower Central Incisors | 8 |
| Upper Central Incisors | 10 |
| Upper Lateral Incisors | 11 |
| Lower Lateral Incisors | 13 |
| Lower First Molars | Approximately 16 |
| Upper First Molars | Approximately 16 |
| Upper Cuspids | Approximately 19 |
| Lower Cuspids | Approximately 20 |
| Lower Second Molars | Approximately 27 |
| Upper Second Molars | Approximately 29 |
When Should I Be Worried About My Child’s Teeth?
Just because a child does not follow the numbers shown above in the baby teeth charts, does not mean parents should worry. There are many reasons why baby teeth do not erupt at a typical time:
- Biological Factors: Every individual is a product of their genes. These genes can determine the potential for growth and development.
- Anatomical Factors: Intrinsic factors related to various components of the mouth, including bones, muscles, nerves, and vascular components, can influence how and when teeth grow.
- Physiological Factors: Our age on the calendar might not always match up with how our body is growing and changing. When it comes to our face and head, growth and development might not always happen at the same pace as other parts of our body.
- Environmental Factors: External factors, including local and systemic diseases, habits, trauma, infections, cavities, and iatrogenic factors, can significantly influence growth and development.
Parents should worry about tooth eruption if:
- No Teeth come in by 18 Months: Most children have several baby teeth by the age of 1. If your child hasn’t developed any teeth by 18 months, it’s a good idea to consult with a pediatric dentist to rule out any potential issues.
- Discomfort or Pain: If your child appears to be in pain or discomfort while teething, it’s essential to address this concern. Persistent pain may be a sign of an issue that needs attention.
- If the Sequence of Eruption is Skipped: Tooth eruption follows a relatively predictable order, and significant deviations may mean that your child has missing teeth. This can cause some concerns with permanent tooth eruption and should, therefore, be further looked into.
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