Do You Know the Dental Milestones Your Child Should Reach?
Posted on 12/21/2020 by Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry
A child's life is full of important milestones: their first word, first steps, starting school, and learning to read are just a few of these exciting moments. When you think about dental milestones, the moments that probably come to mind are when your child's teeth first came in and, if they are old enough, when they lost their first baby tooth. Here is an overview of the milestones you should be aware of when it comes to your child's oral development.
Teething
Teething is the eruption of baby teeth, and it can occur in babies as young as three months old. The front bottom teeth typically appear first, followed by the top front teeth, then the canines and molars. Teething can be painful for babies and toddlers, leading to crying, screaming, and the need to chew on toys or other objects to relieve the pressure they feel on their gums. Children should reach the milestone of having a full set of baby teeth by the time they are three years old.
Starting to Lose Baby Teeth
Children start to lose their baby teeth at about age five or six. Baby teeth loosen as permanent teeth begin growing in and the baby tooth roots dissolve. Children continue to lose their baby teeth and replace them with adult teeth over the course of several years, a phase known as “mixed dentition.” It is during this phase that issues such as overcrowding or crooked teeth may become apparent, requiring consultation with an orthodontist. Children usually have their full set of adult teeth by age twelve.
Braces and Wisdom Teeth
It is common for pre-teens and teenagers to have a variety of dental concerns that can be addressed with orthodontics. When it comes to issues with spacing, overcrowding, or a misaligned bite, it is important to intervene early through the use of braces or retainers to prevent further dental problems from occurring when your child reaches adulthood.
The eruption of wisdom teeth is another dental milestone most children face in their mid- to late-teens or young adulthood. Our mouths typically do not have room for the four wisdom teeth, plus these teeth can grow in at irregular angles, which causes pain and discomfort and can affect neighboring teeth. Wisdom teeth usually need to be extracted by an oral surgeon. To find out more about the dental milestones your child should reach, call our office today.
Blog - Wichita, KS • Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry At Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Healy created this informative blog to assist with educating the community about various topics of pediatric dentistry. Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, 3933 N. Maize Road, Suite 200 Wichita, KS 67101 + (316) 202-9629 + tinyteethwichita.com + 10/4/2024 + Tags: Pediatric Dentist Wichita KS +
A child's life is full of important milestones: their first word, first steps, starting school, and learning to read are just a few of these exciting moments. When you think about dental milestones, the moments that probably come to mind are when your child's teeth first came in and, if they are old enough, when they lost their first baby tooth. Here is an overview of the milestones you should be aware of when it comes to your child's oral development.