A Timeline for Teeth

Have you ever given much thought to the changes our bodies go through during our life? There are a whole lot. While there are plenty of milestone moments, one of the ones that arguably spans the greatest amount of time is the process of teeth growing in, falling out, and growing back in again.

It all starts with teething as a baby. The teething process itself begins before any teeth actually poke through those little gums for the first time. You may even notice signs of teething months before you see actual teeth. There’s a pretty decent range at which baby teeth start to grow in. Some see their first tooth around six months old, while others may be closer to a year old. One of the bottom two teeth is usually the first one to show up. You can expect to see signs of teething beginning between 3-6 months old. The first molars and canines tend to appear after the first birthday. Expect to see the second set of molars around age two.

Losing the primary teeth tends to begin around age six or seven, though again it can vary from child to child. Generally speaking, the primary teeth tend to be lost in more or less the same order they came in, starting with the front teeth and ending with the molars. This process is usually completed around the time the child reaches the age of 12. 

The growth of permanent teeth tends to happen in conjunction with the loss of the primary teeth, for the most part. The permanent teeth usually erupt shortly after the primary teeth fall out, which means you can usually expect them to arrive in more or less the same order that the primary teeth did. The exception to this is the first and second sets of permanent molars. These molars don’t replace primary teeth. The first set tends to come through between ages six and seven, while the second set usually makes its appearance around ages 12-13. Wisdom teeth tend to come in during the late teens and early twenties.

Having an idea of when to expect teeth to show up or fall out can be really useful to parents. It helps you keep an eye on your child’s oral health and can alert you to potential problems. If you’re concerned that something might not be quite right with your child’s teething timeline, be sure to check with your dentist to get answers to your questions.

Have a tooth that’s not falling out on its own as it should? We’re the perfect people to handle your child’s Tooth Extractions for any reason it might be needed.

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