Anyone who has seen an infant's gummy smile knows that humans are born without visible teeth. When your baby is about six months of age, the first tooth will pop through her gum line, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These tiny primary, or baby teeth, will stay in place for several years before they fall out and are replaced with permanent adult teeth.
Timetable
The American Academy of Dentistry, AAD, publishes eruption charts that show when primary and permanent teeth should make their first appearance. Your child will eventually have 20 baby teeth in all, beginning with the two lower central incisors in the very front of his mouth.
The four top front teeth come in next, followed by pairs of teeth on either side of his upper or lower jaw, notes the Cleveland Clinic. As a general rule, you'll see four new teeth every six months, with all 20 baby teeth in place somewhere between 2 and 3 years of age.
Numbering
While dentists use numbers to indicate specific permanent teeth, baby teeth are "numbered" by the letters A through T, according to Tooth IQ. The back molar on your child's upper right jaw is A, and letters are assigned around the upper jaw from A through J. The back tooth on her lower left jaw is K and the one on the lower right is T.
Replacement
A child's primary teeth are replaced by permanent teeth in a gradual process that begins around 6 years of age, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Some youngsters lose their primary molars first, while others have a gap in their front teeth after losing their central incisors.
Significance
Although primary teeth fall out after a few years, they still play an important role in your child's dental health, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Baby teeth act as place holders for permanent teeth, give your child's face its normal contours, promote good speech development and help your child chew the nutritious food she needs for normal growth and development.
Fun Facts
Lower teeth generally erupt before upper teeth, while primary teeth erupt earlier in girls than in same-age boys, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
