Parenting: How Do Teeth Erupt

At birth, teeth are already forming beneath the gums. When teeth arrive at a functional position, it moves in a direction parallel to an axis from its location into a functional position within the oral cavity. The process starts with the primary teeth erupting around the ages of 6 to 7 months.

Teeth eruption begins after the crown formation is complete. Primary development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth starts with the arrival of the tooth located on the jaw, adjacent to the midline of the face. The teething process starts with the lower two incisors. After the eruption of the four incisors in the lower and upper jaw, the first molar follows. Next, in the process are the canines, subsequently the second, and the third molars further back in the mouth follow. Most children have a full set of 20 baby teeth by age 2 or 3. These teeth are the only ones in the mouth until the child turns 6 years old.

Primary teething is a process spread out from 3 months to 3 years of age. Generally, four teeth erupt every six months of life. Erupting teeth move at different speeds at different times. Initially, eruption is slow then it shifts speed. Post-eruptive movements are evident during the general process like tooth movements to accommodate the growing jaws. Around 6 years old, a child starts losing the primary teeth to give way to the incoming set of permanent teeth of 28 or 32 if wisdom teeth have not yet appeared.

Although tooth eruption occurs at different times for different people, a common eruption timeline exists. During primary eruption, the tooth buds of permanent teeth are developing below the primary teeth, close to the palate or tongue. The permanent teeth start with the first molars erupting into the space behind the last baby molars, which usually happens at six years of age. At about the same time, the two primary or baby incisors in front of the mouth loosen to give way to erupting permanent incisors. Once the first permanent tooth erupts, the teeth are in the mixed or transitional dentition, which is the stage responsible for the Bugs Bunny' appearance of children. The last molars or wisdom teeth erupt between ages 18 to 22 years old.

The eruption of permanent teeth can last until the last primary tooth is free. However, the lost of primary teeth before the eruption of permanent teeth may cause the crowding of the permanent teeth. In this case, Orthodontics is necessary to correct the spacing and achieve a straight set of teeth.

Teething can go by almost unnoticed. Some babies breeze through it without worry. Others may be clingy, restless, and cranky because of teething pain. Generally, teething does not cause fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. If your child shows any of these signs then you must promptly consult the doctor.