Deciduous and permanent teeth are part of human growth and are equally important. How you care for your teeth during the younger years can carry over into adulthood.
This article provides comprehensive and valuable information about two sets of human teeth: deciduous and permanent. The explanation in this article will address some commonly-asked questions such as:
- What are deciduous teeth?
- What are permanent teeth?
- When do teeth fully erupt?
- Children and deciduous teeth
- What are the similarities between primary and permanent teeth?
- The difference between deciduous and permanent teeth
- The structure and function of permanent teeth
What are deciduous teeth?
If deciduous teeth sound unfamiliar to you, it’s probably because you’ve heard a few more familiar names for them. Deciduous teeth or primary teeth are also known as:
- temporary teeth
- baby teeth
- milk teeth
These teeth start to grow in a baby from as early as six or seven months old, and all the primary teeth should be developed by age three. They will grow from infancy to toddlerhood and help in mastication until they fall off, as early as five or around six years of age to early teenager.
The development process of the deciduous teeth is also called tooth eruption, in which the primary teeth of the first teeth appear and become visible.
Deciduous teeth are important for the proper development of the muscles of mastication. Other than that, these teeth also prepare the jaw bones for permanent teeth. The primary teeth maintain a place for permanent teeth. Not only that, it has a significant role in the bone growth of dental arches. The deciduous teeth develop spaces between jaw bones as the bones continue to grow, and their roots will later help the permanent teeth erupt correctly into their position.
What are permanent teeth?
The second set of teeth erupting in the human’s mouth is the permanent teeth, also known as adult or secondary teeth.
The primary teeth will be wiggling and shed one by one during the tooth transition period by the time the permanent teeth reach their turn to erupt. During this transition period, there will be a mixed dentition period where the deciduous and permanent teeth are present.
When do teeth fully erupt?
The first permanent molar will replace the primary incisors between six to eight years of age. Between nine to twelve years old, the canines, premolars and second molars will be replaced by the eruption of permanent teeth. The wisdom teeth or third molars will erupt between 17 to 25 years old, but it varies for each person; they may or may not erupt.
You might notice some uniqueness in the permanent teeth when they are newly erupting. New incisors usually have serrated edges or “mamelons,” but they will flatten after a while, to name one.
Another important thing we want you to remember during the tooth transition is that it is entirely normal if there is a gap between two permanent incisors in the front when they erupt in the transitional stage. Dentists often call this the “ugly duckling stage.” As the jaw grows and becomes more mature, the canines will erupt, and the incisors will fix themselves to close the gap.
What are the similarities between primary and permanent teeth?
Both deciduous and permanent teeth are somewhat similar as they are made up of four upper incisors and four lower incisors. Two upper and two lower canines are part of both sets of teeth.
Meanwhile, permanent teeth include four upper premolars and four lower premolars, which are not available in the set of primary teeth. Permanent teeth also have four more molars in total, compared to the set of primary teeth.
Children and deciduous teeth
Even though deciduous teeth are temporary and designed to fall out, children need to take care of these teeth, similar to adults taking care of permanent teeth.
Parents should teach their kids to brush and clean their primary teeth properly from a very early age. You can even bring your children to the dentist as early as six months old when the deciduous teeth appear. Regular dental check-ups and cleaning the teeth properly are the same for both sets of teeth.
The difference between deciduous and permanent teeth
There are general differences between deciduous and permanent teeth. The most prominent one is the number of teeth. You might wonder, “how many teeth are in the permanent dentition?”
There are 20 teeth in the set of primary teeth and 28-32 in the set of permanent teeth. As mentioned above, permanent teeth have eight premolars and third molars, also known as “wisdom teeth.”
Wisdom teeth are absent in the set of primary teeth. The other general and noticeable difference between deciduous and permanent teeth is the size. Primary teeth are smaller and thinner and usually have a lighter colour than permanent ones.
A key point to take, primary teeth are more likely to get tooth decay. Primary teeth are more prone to acid attack due to less mineralized dentin inside the teeth.
The structure and function of permanent teeth.
We will look at how many teeth are included in the permanent teeth and the function of each part. The adult teeth should have all erupted by late teens. However, the “wisdom teeth” or the third molar can show up later in the 20s.
When you have a complete set of the permanent teeth, they will include:
- 8 incisors
- 4 canines or cuspids
- 8 premolars
- 12 molars
Incisors are the front teeth, four in each upper and lower jaw, to hold and cut food with their sharp design. Canines or cuspids for tearing food by the tapered shape of the tooth crown. Premolars are only present in the set of adult teeth and located between canines and molars to cut and tear food. With their broad surface, molars are for crushing and chewing food before swallowing.
Conclusion
Even though the primary teeth fall out eventually, it does not mean they do not need any care or protection. Children must maintain proper oral hygiene and not lose deciduous teeth too early.
If a child loses teeth too early, they might face trouble with teeth alignment in the future. The set of permanent teeth or the structure of the future teeth is significantly affected by the health of the primary teeth.
At Eastman Dental, the dentists know how to examine and treat children in ways that make their dental experience comfortable. You can take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. Rest assured, the dentist can identify oral problems early and help prevent decay.
Children benefit when they take good care of their teeth from a young age. Not only are their teeth protected from decay, but it also instills confidence in them about a healthy smile.