Eruption times vary for every child. It’s okay to be proud of your babies when they cut teeth “early!” But it’s also okay when it seems to be slow going. There is really nothing wrong with early or late eruption and there isn’t anything that you can do to change it (though a pediatric dentist or orthodontist may help a few teeth come out on purpose in some circumstances). The first teeth can start as early as 6 months from birth, and teeth would continue to come until approximately age 12. There is of course a lot of variation here.
Did you know that babies are not toothless? We only see such precious pink gums. But they are born with their baby teeth already growing in their jaws. The white tooth crowns of the primary baby teeth are almost fully developed, and even the crowns of the adult six year old first molars are starting to form right around the time of birth.
A tooth’s location in the jaw varies, and they all have different sizes and shapes. Teeth are part of your child’s development, helping with the development of eating and speaking skills. Teeth also contribute to your child’s face shape by providing hard tissue support for the soft tissues in the lower 1/3 of the face.
Most kids would have a full set of 20 baby teeth by the time they turn 3 years old.
As the jaws grow, adult teeth begin to form. Baby teeth roots get resorbed by the surrounding eruption follicle that is around the erupting adult teeth – that’s why you see rootless teeth when they fall off– and the adult teeth under the baby teeth begin to emerge. Kids usually begin to lose their baby teeth at 6 or 7 years old.
The importance of teeth in proper development of eating and speaking skills cannot be overly stressed. Each baby tooth also holds precious space for the future adult teeth in the gums above and below the baby tooth. Early loss of teeth because of tooth decay or trauma can make it hard for permanent teeth to erupt in the right places (or at all). So practice good dental hygiene from babyhood. Start good habits early!
Typical Tooth Eruption Timing Chart
Baby Teeth
Upper Teeth | When tooth emerges |
Central incisor | 8 to 12 months |
Lateral incisor | 9 to 13 months |
Canine (cuspid) | 16 to 22 months |
First molar | 13 to 19 months |
Second molar | 25 to 33 months |
Lower Teeth | |
Second molar | 23 to 31 months |
First molar | 14 to 18 months |
Canine (cuspid) | 17 to 23 months |
Lateral incisor | 10 to 16 months |
Central incisor | 6 to 10 months |
Permanent Teeth
Upper Teeth | When tooth emerges |
Central incisor | 7-8 years old |
Lateral incisor | 8-9 years old |
Canine (cuspid) | 11-12 years old |
First molar | 6-7 years old |
Second molar | 12-13 years old |
Third molar | 17-21 years old |
Lower Teeth | |
Third molar | 17-21 years old |
Second molar | 11-13 years old |
First molar | 6-7 years old |
Canine (cuspid) | 9-10 years old |
Lateral incisor | 7-8 years old |
Central incisor | 6-7 years old |
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.