When do milk teeth change – what is the correct sequence for changing teeth?
When the baby teeth come in, toddlerhood is over and the child enters a new phase. In addition to the change of teeth, there are several major changes that take place in the child’s body, so it is worth monitoring these together, making the child aware of what is happening and together we should welcome any changes and, if necessary, prepare him or her for the possibility of orthodontic treatment.
How does the change of teeth start?
A baby has 20 deciduous teeth on each side of the mouth, with 5 to 5 deciduous teeth on the bottom. As a prelude to the change of teeth, the remaining 6th tooth emerges behind the last deciduous tooth – around the age of 6. The sixth tooth has a special role in dentition, it is the molar tooth with the largest surface area, and it is very important to keep it for the rest of your life if possible. So watch your child around the age of 6 for the emergence of the first remaining tooth, show it to them in the mirror and celebrate these teeth together, in turn, as they emerge, all 4 of them. Explain to your child how important and wonderful this is, and have a small celebration, a ritual, to honour the emergence of these teeth. Let the child know that the emergence of the remaining teeth marks the beginning of a new era, and encourage him to respect and love himself, his body and his teeth. Throughout his long, long adult years, he will need his body to fulfil his dreams and goals in life. Teach him how to brush these teeth thoroughly, and explain to him why it is so important to keep them clean. And, of course, let’s set a good example by showing them ourselves how to clean our teeth thoroughly in the morning and at night.
When do milk incisors change?
After the sixth tooth erupts, there is a short pause, and then the incisors slowly start to move and then come off. The incisors are usually completely replaced by the end of the 8th year of life. If you notice any irregularities in the dentition at this age, it is worth taking your child for an orthodontic check-up, as certain treatments should be started at such a young age to prevent many problems later on! Tip: Between the ages of 6 and 8 years old, pre-treatment of upper arch crowding can be very successful because the middle suture of the upper jaw is still soft and can be easily dilated if necessary. If this stage is ‘slipped’ by orthodontics, later on, the sutures become completely ossified, leaving the orthodontist with fewer and less effective options for treating severe arch crowding (indeed, in adulthood this can often be corrected correctly by surgery alone). If you are unsure whether or not your child needs orthodontic treatment, get to the bottom of this issue with an orthodontic consultation!
When do baby teeth and canines become milk teeth?
After the incisors have been replaced, there is usually a period of “silence”, the body “prepares” a little again to move on. So you have all the front teeth and the remaining six teeth at the back. Around the age of 9 is officially the time for milk canine teeth to come in, and then around the age of 11 is the time for milk canines to come in. However, in our experience, these tooth changes are often severely skewed by age in today’s children, and in many cases, the order is also altered.
When can we expect the seventh tooth to erupt?
The seventh tooth is normally expected to emerge after the canine teeth have erupted and been placed in the dental arch, usually around the age of 12 to 14. However, current experience shows that there are also major variations, with more and more canines being long out of place and seventh teeth already in pre-cuspids. In our fast-paced world, teeth also move outwards more quickly. However, if the seventh tooth starts to erupt, it will squeeze and close the row in front of it, making the problem worse in case of a misaligned tooth! In such cases, it is always worth compensating for the upset tooth shift with orthodontic treatment!
