Tooth Development, Primary Health Article

Definition

Primary dental development involves the development of the primary, first, or baby teeth.

Description

The primary teeth usually begin to appear about six months after birth. Most children have all 20 primary teeth by age two. The eruption of teeth is associated with teething, a process often causing symptoms such as drooling, disturbed sleep, irritability, swollen gums, and, sometimes, a low-grade fever. While there are typical patterns of tooth eruption, these patterns can vary greatly from child to child.

Tooth development in the upper jaw

The primary teeth in the upper jaw are:

• Central incisors, which erupt between ages 7 and 12 months and fall out around 6 to 8 years of age.
• Lateral incisors, erupting between 9 and 13 months of age and falling out by the time a child reaches 7 or 8 years of age.
• Canines or cuspids, which appear around 16 to 22 months of age and fall out at 10 to 12 years old.

• First molars, emerging between 18 and 19 months and falling out at 9 to 11 years of age.
• Second molars, which come in at 25 to 33 months old and fall out at 10 to 12 years of age.

Tooth development in the lower jaw

The primary teeth in the lower jaw are:

• Central incisors, which erupt at 6 to 10 months and fall out at 6 to 6 years.
• Lateral incisors, erupting at 7 to 16 months and falling out between 7 to 8 years of age.
• Canines, which come in at 16 to 23 months of age and fall out between 9 and 12 years of age.
• First molars, emerging at 12 to 18 months and falling out at 9 to 11 years of age.
• Second molars, which erupt between 20 and 31 months and fall out at 10 to 12 years of age.

Function

Teeth are for chewing and crunching food. They are attached to the tooth root, which anchors them to the jaw bone. The visible part of the tooth is the crown and its hard covering is enamel, which is the hardest substance in the body. The enamel covers a material, called dentin, which makes up the majority of each tooth. Deeper inside the tooth is the pulp, which includes nerve sensations and provides nutrients to the tooth. Baby teeth, like permanent teeth, include pointier incisor and cuspid teeth capable of tearing meats and rounder, flatter molars for grinding foods such as vegetables.

Role in human health

Primary teeth have many roles. They allow children to chew properly, helping them to maintain sound nutrition. Primary teeth are important for good pronunciation and speech and are a key aesthetic facial feature. Another function of primary teeth is that they guide permanent teeth and contribute to healthy jaw development.

Premature primary tooth loss

At times, primary teeth fall out or are knocked out too early. The resulting space might become too small for the erupting tooth, so dentists often fill the space with a space maintainer to ensure adequate room for permanent tooth eruption.