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Children and Dentistry
At what age should my child's various
teeth come in?
Healthy baby teeth act as guides for the eruption
of your child's permanent teeth which appear later. If the
baby teeth and decay are not repaired, they may be lost too
early. This can cause crooked permanent teeth.
Healthy baby teeth help the child to chew food well, speak
properly and have a pleasant appearance.
Your child's first tooth will appear or erupt
at about six to eight months. By three years of age all
20 baby or primary teeth will have appeared. The chart below
shows the approximate age that each primary tooth erupts
and is lost or shed.
|
Upper
Teeth:
|
|
|
Eruption
Date |
Shedding
Date |
 |
a |
central
incisor |
8
- 12 months
|
6
- 7 years
|
| b |
lateral
incisor |
9
- 13 months
|
7
- 8 years
|
| c |
cuspid |
16
- 22 months
|
10
- 12 years
|
| d |
first
molar |
13
- 19 months
|
9
- 11 years
|
| e |
second
molar |
25
- 33 months
|
10
- 12 years
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Lower
Teeth:
|
|
|
Eruption
Date |
Shedding
Date |
 |
e |
second
molar |
23
- 31 months
|
10
- 12 years
|
| d |
lfirst
molar |
14
- 18 months
|
9
- 11 years
|
| c |
cuspid |
17
- 23 months
|
9
- 12 years
|
| b |
lateral
incisor |
10
- 16 months
|
7
- 8 years
|
| a |
central
incisor |
6
- 10 months
|
6
- 7 years
|
| |
|
|
|
*Information and charts courtesy Alberta Health
and Wellness
As children near six years of age, their jaws
grow in order to make space for the permanent teeth. The first
permanent teeth to erupt are usually the six-year molars in
the lower jaw followed by the lower permanent incisors. The
chart below indicates the dates when the permanent teeth will
likely appear.
|
Upper
Teeth:
|
|
|
Eruption
Date |
|
|
1 |
central
incisor |
7
- 8 years |
| 2 |
lateral
incisor |
8
- 9 years |
| 3 |
cuspid |
11
- 12 years |
| 4 |
first
bicuspid |
10
- 11 years |
| 5 |
second
bicuspid |
10
- 12 years |
| 6 |
first
molar |
6
- 7 years |
| 7 |
second
molar |
12
- 13 years |
| 8 |
third
molar |
17
- 21 years |
| |
|
|
|
Lower
Teeth:
|
|
|
Eruption
Date |
|
|
8 |
third
molar |
17
- 21 years |
| 7 |
second
molar |
11
- 13 years |
| 6 |
first
molar |
6
- 7 years |
| 5 |
second
bicuspid |
11
- 12 years |
| 4 |
first
bicuspid |
10
- 12 years |
| 3 |
cuspid |
9
- 10 years |
| 2 |
lateral
incisor |
7
- 8 years |
| 1 |
central
incisor |
6
- 7 years |
| |
|
|
<Back
to FAQ
What can I do to help my child's teeth
stay healthy?
Training your baby for a lifetime of healthy
gums and teeth should start early, long before he or she actually
goes to the dentist. Start by gently cleaning your baby's
gums with a clean washcloth before the first teeth come in.
As soon as the first teeth erupt, you need to start cleaning
them for your baby. You should brush your child's teeth for
them until he or she has developed enough coordination to
tie his or her shoes. Once your child is able to brush you
should supervise brushing until the age of 8. Make sure your
child uses a toothpaste containing fluoride, and uses a fluoride
rinse if recommended by your dentist. Children's teeth should
be flossed if they fit closely together.
Other things you can do to ensure good dental
health for your child include:
- not putting a baby to bed with a bottle containing milk,
juice or any liquid other than water
- encouraging your child to avoid sweets and sticky foods
- teaching your child to brush after snacking
- checking your child's teeth for white, yellow or brown spots,
which can be signs of decay
- making sure your child visits the dentist every 6 months.
Cavities in baby teeth can progress quickly.
<Back to FAQ
What is a sealant?
A sealant is a clear acrylic that bonds to the tooth to form
a protective barrier in the pits and grooves of the back teeth.
This makes the teeth more resistant to decay. All adult back
teeth should be sealed soon after they erupt to help prevent
decay. Your dentist may also recommend sealants for your child's
back baby teeth if they have deep pits on the biting surfaces.
Sealants are the best preventive treatment that your dentist
can provide for you and your children. If the sealant chips
later you should have the tooth re-sealed because with the
sealant gone the tooth can be more prone to decay. Sealing
adult permanent teeth in grown adults can also be a useful
treatment for long term health.
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