General Information
Eruption Schedule for children’s teeth
| Upper Teeth | Primary Erupt | Permanent Erupt |
| Central incisor | 8-12 mos. | 7-8 yrs |
| Lateral incisor | 9-13 mos. | 8-9 yrs. |
| Canine (cuspid) | 16-22 mos. | 11-12 yrs |
| First premolar | 10-11 yrs. | |
| Second premolar | 10-12 yrs. | |
| First molar | 13-19 mos. | 6-7 yrs. |
| Second molar | 25-33 mos. | 12-13 yrs. |
| Third molar | 17-21 yrs. | |
| Lower Teeth | ||
| Third molar | 17-21 yrs. | |
| Second molar | 23-31 mos. | 11-13 yrs. |
| First molar | 14-18 mos. | 6-7 yrs. |
| Second premolar | 11-12 yrs. | |
| First premolar | 10-12 yrs. | |
| Canine (cupsid) | 17-23 mos. | 9-10 yrs. |
| Lateral incisor | 10-16 mos. | 7-8 yrs. |
| Central incisor | 6-10 mos. | 6-7 yrs. |
- Caring for children’s teeth
Childhood teeth are important! Apart from helping to chew and speak, they keep space for permanent teeth to grow correctly.
- Infant Care :
Tender teeth must be wiped daily with a piece of gauze or a clean, damp washcloth till your child is approximately 18 months of age - Early Childhood:
After about 18-24 months, brush your child’s teeth with a soft-bristled infant’s toothbrush. - Older Children:
Brushing can be made fun by using a battery operated toothbrush in different toy designs. - Thumb/Finger sucking
Sucking is a natural reflex. Only if it continues after the permanent teeth appear (age 6), it can push the front teeth outwards. Correct the child gently or ask your dentist for advice. - Pacifier/Dummy
Coating your baby’s pacifier in any food/sweet liquid encourages tooth decay. The pacifier should be checked regularly for signs of wear or splitting. - Baby Bottle Caries
An infant’s teeth can decay if he/she sucks on a bottle of sweet milk or juice for long periods. If your baby needs the bottle as a sleep-aid, fill it with plain boiled water. Remove it once he/she is asleep.
- Infant Care :
- What types of teeth are there and when do they erupt and fall?
There are 2 types milk/baby/deciduous teeth and the permanent teeth. There are 20 milk and 32 permanent teeth. Primary teeth begin to erupt at 6-8 months and fall between 7-12 years. - When should you first visit the Paediatric dentist?
The child should have his first dental visit around 1 year of age. The first visit should be free from pain so he gets comfortable at the dental clinic. His teeth will be examined and you will be given future pointers. - How should you prepare your child for his Paediatric dental visit?
It is very important that you do not project dental treatment as a punishment. You can encourage the child about the benefits such as attractive teeth with no black spots (decay). Also, avoid saying “it will not hurt”, project your dentist as a person who will help keep his teeth healthy and white in a friendly environment. - What will the Paediatric dentist do during your child’s first visit?
Your child’s mouth and teeth will be examined for any irregularities and advise related to dental care will be given. - Are children ill when teething?
No, the child does not fall ill when teething, just gets irritable and may experience itching, aching, mild swelling of gums that leads to stuffing objects in the mouth. These toys, objects or teethers may not be sterile which may lead to infection thus causing fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Please consult your doctor or dentist. - At what age should a child start using a tooth brush?
He should start using a toothbrush after the first teeth in front erupt. The teeth should be brushed by the parents/guardian until atleast 3 years of age and supervised brushing thereafter. The correct method of brushing is of utmost importance. - What is a healthy tooth and decay tooth?
A healthy tooth is free from gum disease, tooth decay and has adequate bone structure. A tooth begins to decay when food gets stuck on teeth and the bacteria convert the sugary and starchy foodinto acid that erodes the enamel, dentine and finally the pulp is affected. - Why is it important to keep the primary teeth and have them filled if cavities occur?
The milk teeth form a base that determines the quality and alignment of the permanent teeth. They help in chewing thus help keeping your child well nourished, as it is important to chew food. It contributes to facial development of bone and muscle. It also helps in speech development. Last but definitely not the least aesthetics that will help boost your child’s self esteem. - How can tooth decay be prevented?
- Eat balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre.
- Don’t eat sweet frequently and between meals.
- Brush or at least rinse thoroughly after meals and snacks. Night brushing is imperative.
- Use correct dental aid tooth brush, paste and floss and ensure correct method.
- Visit a Paediatric dentist at least twice a year for examination, application of sealants and fluoride varnish and gels.
- What is fluoride therapy and pit and fissure sealant?
Fluoride makes the tooth resistant to acid attack hence topical professional application of fluoride in the form of varnish and gels is advised to reduce the chances of formation of caries. An extension of the same programme is application of sealants that seal the deep pits and fissures on grinding teeth (molars). - If a child’s primary teeth are decayed or poorly formed, will his permanent teeth be faulty?
Not necessarily, but an infected tooth may affect the development of the permanent tooth. Early loss of tooth may cause the permanent tooth to erupt out of place or fail to erupt. Regular follow-up is necessary. - What types of restorative options do you have?
Conservation with fillings, root canal therapy must be considered as a priority. However, if defective teeth cannot be treated and filled properly, it should be extracted and space conserved for future erupting teeth. - Should a primary tooth that is lost too soon be replaced with a space maintainer?
Yes, otherwise, the vacant space tends to close up that can lead to irregularly placed teeth and malalignment. If a space maintainer is inserted, it will preserve the space for the permanent tooth and thus prevent/reduce the chances of future orthodontic treatment. - What if your child’s tooth breaks accidentally due to fall of trauma?
Take the child to the dentist immediately. Control the bleeding with pressure. Do not throw away the fallen tooth or its piece. It may be attached back if the dentist sees it fit. Take the tooth as it is in a wet container preferably in saliva or saline. In such cases time is of prime importance, so reach the dentist as soon as possible. Your child may also need to wear wire for a couple of weeks. Each case is an individual one with varying treatment modalities. Help the dentist do the best for your child - Is thumbsucking harmful?
In the first 2-3 years of life thumbsucking is not considered harmful. Persistence of the habit may lead to anterior positioning of teeth with openbite. In such cases, the habit can be discouraged by various methods and appliances as advised by the Paediatric dentist. - What harm can irregular teeth do?
Irregular teeth may accumulate plaque that may lead to fum disease and even tooth decay. A Paediatric dentist can correct the irregularity by restorative, surgical or Paediatric interventional orthodontics. - What is the proper age to correct irregular teeth?
Some need to be treated immediately such as cross bite while some are best treated at a later date. Regular check up helps determine the same. - What is the relationship between nutrition and dental health?
Calcium and phosphorus are necessary during the years teeth are formed. A balanced diet throughout life is a great start. For the decay prone, topical professional application of gel containing amorphous calcium phosphate along with fluoride can be extremely beneficial. - What is nursing caries?
This is rapidly spreading caries when many a times you think the teeth erupted already decayed. It is caused in babies who sleep with milk or sweetened water bottle. Cleaning the oral cavity of the child with a damp sterile cloth after feeds may prevent such decay. - What do you do in case of nursing, milk bottle caries?
In case of such decay, kindly consult the Paediatric dentist as soon as possible. The decay spreads fast and your child may need extensive restorative, preventive and maintenance regime if ignored for long.
