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Early Tooth Development in Children

An infant's first year is filled with many exciting milestones: first smile, first step and first tooth. A parent will keep a camera on standby so pictures can be taken at the right time. By the time a child is born all 20 primary teeth are formed in the jawbones even though they won't start to emerge for several months. Also, the permanent adult teeth begin to form before birth. A child's full set of primary teeth should appear by the time he turns 3.

  1. Prenatal Tooth Development

    • Healthy nutrition during pregnancy is vital to the proper development of a fetus. Sufficient amounts of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C and vitamin D are required for tooth development, while the maternal consumption of such medications as tetracycline can pose risks. During pregnancy, the general substance of the tooth is formed at 6 weeks, and the hard tissue that encompasses teeth is formed during months 3 or 4. Sometimes a child is born with a tooth, but it is soon lost after birth.

    Anatomy of the Tooth

    • The four main parts of the tooth are: the outer layer which is the enamel, the dentin which is the inner layer, the pulp where the nerve is located and the part that attaches the tooth to the jaw is the root.

    Eruption Timeline

    • Each child is different so tooth eruption will vary from child to child. Typically, baby teeth begin to appear between the baby's fourth and twelfth months, though there's no cause for concern if a child turns 1 without the eruption of even one tooth.

    Order of Appearance

    • Usually the two lower central incisors appear first, and then the four upper incisors. Next, the first four molars appear, followed by the two lower lateral incisors. The cuspids (or pointed teeth) generally come in next. Lastly, after the child's second birthday, the four second molars appear. According to Children's Hospital Boston, the upper teeth will usually appear within a month or two after the same teeth erupted in the lower jaw, and once teeth begin to show, one tooth generally comes in every month afterwards. Space between the baby teeth will allow for room when the larger permanent teeth erupt.

    Loss of Baby Teeth

    • The central incisors are usually the first teeth children lose, and that occurs around 6 years old. The last primary teeth lost are the cuspids, or second molars, and that occurs around 12 years old.

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