News

Primary and Permanent Teeth

Generally your child’s primary teeth or “baby” teeth have erupted by the age of three. At your child’s cleaning appointment Dr. Hopgood or our hygienist will let you know how many teeth your child has, what is left to erupt, and a timeline as to what teeth are expected to fall out when. In total, there are 20 primary teeth in the mouth. Primary teeth are important in the development of the permanent teeth; they maintain spaces where permanent teeth will erupt and aid in speech patterns. Although primary teeth only last for a few years it is crucial that they be cared for properly. If “baby” teeth are lost prematurely, adjacent teeth can tip and move to try to fill the empty space. If there is not enough room, the permanent teeth may not erupt into their proper position and lead to serious bite problems in later life. Decay, discoloration, and infection will likely impact the permanent teeth and should be evaluated by a dental professional.

Around the age of six, the first tooth will begin to loosen and eventually fall out. Generally, the first to fall out are the front teeth followed slowly (over a number of years) by all other primary teeth in the mouth. It is normal for your child to continue to lose “baby” teeth until 13 to 14 years of age at which time they will have 28 permanent teeth.

After the age of 14, children should have 28 teeth visible in the mouth and four wisdom teeth (which may or may not be visible) equaling 32 teeth. If your wisdom teeth are impacted (below the skin and in the bone), they can still create problems (infections, crowding, etc.). It is common that we will take a panoramic x-ray to evaluate the wisdom teeth and if necessary refer you (or your child) to an oral surgeon in the area. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this topic further, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at 978-475-2431.

Advanced Dental Concepts
Richard D. Hopgood D.M.D., M.A.G.D.
296 Lowell Street
Andover, MA 01810
Telephone: 978-475-2431
Email: info@andoverdmd.com