teeth, eruption of

When do baby teeth erupt? Not soon enough for most parents, I have found. This seems to be a common source of anxiety for parents. In actual practice, when the teeth first erupt is of no medical significance whatsoever. They come in when they come in, and that is that. In the few instances where the eruption of teeth is delayed for a medical reason, it is always a serious hormonal problem (hypothyroidism or growth hormone deficiency) that has manifested itself in some other way or has been detected by newborn screening already by the time delayed eruption of teeth is noted.

There is a variety of quaint folklore regarding teething and the maladies it supposedly engenders.

The eruption of deciduous (baby) teeth occurs on this timetable:

Upper
Central Incisors - 8-13 months
Lateral Incisors - 8-13 months
Canines (cuspids) - 16-23 months
First Molars - 13-19 months
Second Molars - 25-33 months

Lower
Central Incisors - 6-10 months
Lateral Incisors - 10-16 months
Canines (cuspids) - 16-23 months
First Molars - 13-19 months
Second Molars - 23-31 months

The eruption of permanent (adult) teeth occurs on this timetable:

Upper
Central Incisors - 7-8 years
Lateral Incisors - 8-9 years
Canines (Cuspids) - 11-12 years
First Premolars (Bicuspids) - 10-11 years
Second Premolars (Bicuspids) - 10-12 years
First Molars - 6-7 years
Second Molars - 12-13 years
Third Molars - 17-21 years

Lower
Central Incisors - 6-7 years
Lateral Incisors - 7-8 years
Canines (Cuspids) - 9-10 years
First Premolars (Bicuspids) - 10-12 years
Second Premolars (Bicuspids) - 11-12 years
First Molars - 6-7 years
Second Molars - 11-13 years
Third Molars - 17-21 years

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