Did you know that your baby’s teeth began developing in utero? “Teeth begin developing in the fetus, and that is another reason why good nutrition is so important for mom during this special time. Mothers should be getting lots of vitamins that help to help baby’s teeth develop as healthy as possible,” said Dr. Elizabeth.
The basic organization of a tooth starts at about six weeks (before some people even know they are pregnant!!) of age in the fetus. In fact, the tongue, jaw bones, and hard palate are all basically intact by about the 11 week mark (not even the end of the first trimester). By three to four months, the hard tissue that surrounds many of the baby teeth is formed though the roots are still incomplete. After the child is born, teeth begin to protrude through the gums between the ages of six to twelve months. Girls will usually get their teeth before boys, and all baby teeth are usually present by three years of age.
There are four main parts to a tooth, the enamel, dentin, pulp (or nerve chamber), and root. The enamel is the outer layer of the tooth. It is the hard part of the tooth that you can easily see. The dentin is the inner layer; this is the biggest layer of dental tissue and makes up the main part of the tooth. It is much softer than enamel and once a cavity penetrates through enamel, it can spread through this quickly. [Side note, this is one main reason why dental cleanings are scheduled every 6 months so intervention of little cavities can happen before they become big cavities]. The pulp is the soft tissue that contains the nerve. This is located on the inside of the tooth and produces dentin. Finally, the root is what secures the tooth to the jaw.
Once all of the baby teeth are in, usually starting with the lower jaw and then the upper catches right up, they will start to fall out by the age of six. The eruption of the primary teeth will vary in child to child, so don’t be overly concerned if your child’s teeth do not follow the pattern of others. Your child will get a total of 20 baby teeth by the time all teeth have come in. The adult teeth begin coming in around the age of 6 and will continue to erupt until around age 12. The wisdom teeth, if they will fit, try to erupt around age 17 or older.
The arrival of teeth and transition of baby to adult teeth can be a very exciting developmental milestone when the teeth stay healthy and development goes according to a normal plan. Be sure to see your pediatric dentist as soon as your child gets his or her first tooth, and if you have any question, please don’t hesitate to call us!
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, 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 office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital when needed. Our specialists are also on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
