The Dental HiWay - TEETH - An Owner's Manual: Eruption

- TEETH - An Owner's Manual

Eruption is the term used to describe the appearance of teeth in the mouth.

The permanent teeth erupt as follows:


1. At the age of about six the first permanent teeth appear in the mouth. Note that these teeth are permanent molars appearing behind the last primary teeth.	2. It is only now that the primary incisors in the upper and lower jaws (maxilla and mandible) are shed with the permanent incisors erupting between the ages of six to eight.	3. Then the primary canines and molars are shed to make room for the permanent canines and premolars between the ages of nine and eleven.

4. At the age of about twelve another set of molars appears immediately behind the first set.

Between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five the wisdom teeth appear behind the second molars. Dentition is now complete and consist of 32 teeth.

How do permanent teeth erupt?


5. Initially a primary tooth has a long root.	6. As the permanent tooth begins to erupt thee root of the primary tooth dissolves.	7. When a primary tooth is shed it is interesting to note that the tooth has practically no root left. This is the reason why the tooth becomes loose and is shed.

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