Did you know that when a baby is born, they already have a full set of 20 primary teeth hiding under their gums? As they get older, those teeth will start to come in, and many other changes will take place throughout their childhood. At ZDental, family dentistry is a big part of our practice, so today, we would like to share some information with you about the changes children’s teeth go through as they grow and some ideas about how to best care for them during this process.
Primary Teeth
Also known as baby teeth, primary teeth allow a baby to begin eating solid food. The incisors are generally the first to come in, at around 6 to 12 months old. Over the first 30 or so months of their life, the rest of a baby’s teeth will come in until they have a full set of 8 molars, 4 canines, and 8 incisors. Your baby should have their first dental appointment within 6 months of their first tooth coming in, or before they reach 12 months of age. During that first visit, your dentist will inspect the teeth, gums, and jaws to ensure there are no issues.
The primary teeth usually begin falling out at around 6 years of age to make room for permanent teeth. In most cases, all of a child’s primary teeth will have fallen out by the time they reach age 12. Your child should see the dentist regularly during this period, and you may want to consider seeing an orthodontist as early as age 7 to find out if there are any issues with tooth crowding or abnormalities bit abnormalities. A child’s bones are still growing during this time, so orthodontic treatment can be faster and more effective at this age.
Permanent Teeth
An adult has 32 permanent teeth, although some people’s third molars (also known as wisdom teeth) do not erupt until they are in their 20s. Some people’s wisdom teeth never erupt at all. A child will begin getting their permanent teeth as soon as their baby teeth fall out. After the permanent teeth form inside the gums, they begin pushing down on the root of the baby teeth. By the time a baby tooth falls out, its root is almost entirely destroyed, and it won’t be long before that permanent tooth starts to poke through. A child’s newly formed incisors will sometimes have ridges or bumps on them, known as mamelons. This is nothing to be concerned about. Mamelons are a normal part of tooth development and they will begin to wear down over the years until they are no longer noticeable.
Finding a Family Dentist
Your dentist should be an integral part of your child’s development from the time they are a baby until they grow into an adult. Identifying oral health issues early in life can make them easier to treat, and your child’s dentist can teach them good habits to ensure their teeth and gums stay healthy throughout their life. If you are looking for family dentistry in Bensalem, PA, or anywhere nearby, ZDental has 5 locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to serve you. Visit our contact page to find the location that works best for you, then call to schedule an appointment today!