They have different needs, come in at different rates, and cause different problems than adult teeth do.
If you have a child that hasn't seen a dentist in the last six months, you want to find a dentist with experience in pediatric dentistry.
How Baby Teeth Are Different Than Adult Teeth
Your child's first set of teeth are called deciduous teeth, or more commonly called baby teeth. They come in typically around six months of age, and begin to fall out between 5 and 6 years old.They are pushed out of the mouth as the permanent teeth begin to push their way in. These teeth that serve your child well for about five years of their life are quite different than adult teeth. Here are just a few ways that they are thinner.
| • | The enamel covering baby teeth is significantly thinner than that of permanent teeth. |
| • | Baby teeth are structurally different from adult teeth, in that they are thinner, smaller, and have bumps on top of them to facilitate their eruption into your child's mouth. |
| • | The roots of baby teeth are shorter and designed differently because those teeth are designed to fall out. |
| • | There are typically only 20 baby teeth, whereas there are 32 permanent teeth when all have come in, including the wisdom teeth. |
If you want to know more about the differences between baby teeth and adult teeth, contact our office today. That way, your child's teeth, both baby and permanent, get the best care possible!
