timeline baby teeth growing

General Timeline for Baby Teeth Growing In

While the general timetable for when your baby will begin to see teeth erupting into the mouth is somewhat similar for most kids, every child is different when it comes to the details. The 20 baby teeth that will grow in for your child don’t come in at precise dates, but rather within a general range of time – only if they get well outside this range should you be concerned at all.

At Southridge Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to provide pediatric dental cleaning and numerous other dental services for children of all ages, including the youngest among them. What are these general ranges for new baby teeth coming in, and what are some of the areas to look for? Let’s go over an expected timeline for you to understand.

Incisors

The earliest teeth to arrive in almost all babies are known as incisors, the kind you may recognize from numerous cute baby pictures you’ve seen. These teeth are first to grow in for practical purposes: They are sharp and designed to bite into food, one of the first signs that your child is able to eat solid food as part of their diet. There are a few different incisors to consider – here’s a basic range of when you should expect each of them:

  • Lower central incisors: These are the bottom front teeth, usually the very first to grow in. They appear between six and 10 months of age.
  • Upper incisors: These typically show up next, between eight and 12 months in.
  • Upper lateral incisors: The teeth on each side of the front of the mouth, these show up between nine and 13 months of age.
  • Lower lateral incisors: Usually the last of the incisors, seen between 10 and 16 months.

Initial Molars

Children may experience bits of teething pain during the period where teeth are growing in, and the first molars are often an example of this. Molars are larger and may cause a bit more discomfort growing in, but they’re vital for chewing and grinding food. Upper molars tend to arrive first, between 13 and 19 months, followed by lower molars between 14 and 18 months.

Canines

Also known as cuspids, these are pointed teeth that fit between the molars and incisors. They’re meant to grip and break apart food. Like with molars, the upper canines usually arrive first, between 16 and 22 months of age. Lower canines generally begin to show up between 17 and 23 months, give or take.

Second Molars

Finally, a second set of molars will grow in to cap things off here. This is one area where bottom teeth come in first – bottom second molars usually arrive between 23 and 31 months, while upper second molars complete the 20-tooth set between 25 and 33 months. By the time your child is three years old, they should generally have a full set of baby teeth grown in.

For more on the general schedule for new baby teeth growing in, or to learn about any of our pediatric dental services, speak to the staff at Southridge Pediatric Dentistry today.