Parents, and even older children, can become concerned about tooth development. Wondering when teeth should erupt, and being concerned when the teeth do not appear on schedule, is common. First, you need to remember that each individual is different. Guidelines are just guidelines, but Drs. Coombs, Holmes, and Johnson and our team at South Hill Pediatric Dentistry thought we would pass on this information to help you.
Primary teeth
Children normally have 20 primary or baby teeth. The first two to appear are usually the lower central incisors between six to ten months of age. These fall out between five and seven years of age.
- Two upper central incisors – eight to 12 months
- Two upper lateral incisors – nine to 13 months
- Two upper cuspids or canines – 16 to 22 months
- Two upper first molars – 13 to 19 months
- Two upper second molars – 25 to 33 months
- Two lower lateral incisors – ten to 16 months
- Two lower cuspids or canines – 17 to 23 months
- Two lower first molars – 14 to 18 months
- Two lower second molars – 13 to 31 months
As you can see, all the primary teeth normally have erupted before three years of age, but the timeline can vary by four to six months. Except for the lower central incisors and second molars, upper teeth tend to appear before lower teeth.
Permanent or adult teeth
Adults normally have 32 permanent teeth. However, four of these are wisdom teeth or third molars, which are often removed.
- Two upper central incisors – seven to eight years
- Two upper lateral incisors – eight to nine years
- Two upper cuspids or canines – 11 to 12 years
- Two upper first premolars or bicuspids – ten to 11 years
- Two upper second premolars or bicuspids – ten to 12 years
- Two upper first molars – six to seven years
- Two upper second molars – 12 to 13 years
- Two upper third molars or wisdom teeth – 17 to 21 years
- Two lower central incisors – six to seven years
- Two lower lateral incisors – seven to eight years
- Two lower cuspids or canines – nine to ten years
- Two lower first premolars or bicuspids – ten to 12 years
- Two lower second premolars or bicuspids – 11 to 12 years
- Two lower first molars – six to seven years
- Two lower second molars – 11 to 13 years
- Two lower third molars or wisdom teeth – 17 to 21 years
Please discuss any of your dental concerns during your visit with Drs. Coombs, Holmes, and Johnson. If there is a problem with tooth development, the earlier we address it, the better the outcome. We specialize in pediatric dentistry and look forward to helping you and your child with all your dental needs. To learn more about tooth eruption, or to schedule an appointment with Drs. Coombs, Holmes, and Johnson, please give us a call at our convenient Spokane, WA office!
