Do Children Get a Second Set of Back Teeth?

Everyone is familiar with the endearing, toothless smile of a child. A normal part of growing up, losing baby teeth and gaining adult, permanent teeth is inevitable. Shedding baby teeth brings on cheers from proud parents and lucrative visits from the tooth fairy. Knowing when teeth arrive and when they fall out can ease uncertainty for parents and alleviate fears for children.

Types of Teeth

• There are four types of teeth contained in the adult mouth, while three types make up the primary teeth of children. The incisors consist of four central and four lateral and are used for biting and cutting. The canines, also called cuspids or eye teeth, function by tearing food. The premolars, also called bicuspids, and the molars are the strong back teeth we use for chewing and grinding our food. Premolars are not part of primary teeth and only appear during the eruption of permanent teeth.

Primary Teeth

• According to the American Dental Association, primary or baby teeth erupt between 6 months and 1 year of age, and help babies chew their food and speak. By the age of 3, children have all 20 of their primary teeth. They erupt in a specific order starting with the four central incisors, followed within a few months by four lateral incisors. Next are the first molars, or back teeth, followed by four canine teeth. The last four teeth to erupt are the second molars.

Loss of Primary Teeth

• Children begin to lose their primary teeth between 6 and 7 years of age. Teeth fall out in the order in which they erupted, starting with the lower and then the upper incisors. The lateral incisors shed next, followed by the first molars, the canines and the second molars, which fall out last. As the primary teeth fall out, permanent erupt simultaneously and this cycle is usually completed by the age of 14.

Permanent Teeth

• Permanent teeth begin to erupt at around 6 years old. The order that teeth appear can vary, but usually follow a typical pattern. Permanent teeth begin with the first back molars, followed by the central and then the lateral incisors. The canine teeth come next, with premolars then second molars coming last. By the age of 14, children have usually lost all of their primary teeth and have 28 permanent teeth in place.

Wisdom Teeth

• Wisdom teeth, also called the third molars, erupt for some people between the ages of 17 and 21. The number of wisdom teeth varies among people, with some getting between one and four, while others do not get them at all. Wisdom teeth frequently require removal by a dentist or oral surgeon due to overcrowding and abnormal growth.