The first primary teeth usually begin to erupt between 6 months and 1 year of age. By age 3, a majority of children have a “full” set of 20 primary teeth. We recommend that you schedule your child’s first dental appointment with a pediatric dentist when their first tooth erupts or by their first birthday.

The first teeth to emerge are typically the central incisors (the very front teeth) for the upper and lower jaws. They are followed by the lateral incisors and then the first molars. As the eruption of molars can be painful, you may want to use cool gauzes or teething rings during this stage of development to soothe your child’s discomfort. The canine teeth are usually the next teeth to erupt, followed by the second molars.

Your child will typically lose their baby teeth in the same order in which the teeth erupted, beginning with their front teeth and moving back toward their molars.

Most children follow a similar developmental pattern when their primary teeth begin to erupt. However, please remember that each child is different and that they may not follow this schedule. You may find that your child will go months without any new tooth erupting or that two or more teeth erupt at once.

If you have any questions about tooth eruption or would like to set up an appointment for your child with our caring pediatric dentist, please contact our office today.