Having a child can be an incredibly rewarding, but terrifying, experience. You’re responsible for their emotional and physical well-being, but no one handed you a guidebook on child-rearing, after all! There are some things new parents might not know, like when to anticipate their child’s first pearly whites to grow in or how long it takes before they begin to fall out to allow for permanent ones. Fortunately, your pediatric dentist has put together some helpful information, so you know what to expect. Read on to learn more!
When Do Children Start Teething?
Every child is unique so it’s impossible to say with certainty exactly when they’ll start teething, but in general, they tend to grow in a similar pattern around certain stages of development. Usually, the bottom front teeth show up first, when your infant is about half a year to one year old. Then, over the next couple of years, the rest of their pearly whites will start to crop up.
A projected timeline for when they typically erupt is as follows:
- Lower incisors: 6 to 16 months.
- Upper incisors: 8 to 13 months.
- Upper canine (cuspid): 16 to 22 months.
- Lower canine (cuspid): 17 to 23 months.
- First upper molar: 13 to 19 months.
- First lower molar: 14 to 18 months.
- Second lower molar: 23 to 31 months.
- Second upper molar: 25 to 33 months.
Usually, children have a full mouth of teeth by the time they’re 3 years old.
When Do Children Lose Their Teeth?
As we all know, these early pearly whites are their primary, or baby, teeth that fall out as their permanent ones arrive. While it might be a little sooner or later, you can safely predict the transition to begin when they’re 6 years old. They tend to lose them in the same order they came in because their adult teeth follow a similar pattern, though it takes several years longer than their baby teeth. A sample timeframe looks like:
- Upper and lower Incisors: 6 to 8 years.
- Upper canine (cuspid): 10 to 12 years
- Lower canine (cuspid): 9 to 12 years.
- First upper and lower molars: 9 to 11 years.
- Second upper and lower molar: 10 to 12 years.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Arrive?
Once their adult molars grow in, there’s a long break before they see any new teeth. The last to erupt are their wisdom teeth, which are molars behind the others that come in when your child is fully grown. They can show up anywhere from 17 to 25 years of age, though not everyone has them. In many cases, your dentist will recommend that they be extracted because there’s not always room for them in the jaw.
Now you’re well informed so you won’t be taken aback by any unexpected surprises in the development of your child’s teeth!
About the Practice
At Healthy Kids Dentistry, your little one benefits from a team of dentists who take pride in helping children through all stages of dental development. With a focus on preventative dentistry, they’ll help you keep your child’s smile healthy and strong as well as teach them the importance of oral hygiene. If you’d like to request a checkup, you’re welcome to contact the office on the website or by calling (301) 844-6999.