How long does it take for adult teeth to come in?

Answer 1

The deciduous teeth come through first, and then they fall out to make way for the adult ones as children get older.

Our timeline is only an average guide to these ages, and some people may get their teeth sooner or later than the ages given. Dentists can check children's' teeth to see if they are coming through at the right time.

Birth (0 months) - when babies are born, their teeth are still growing inside the jaws. The first set of teeth (milk or deciduous) don't usually start appearing in the mouth until around age 6 months.

6 month - By about six months, the first tooth appears in the mouth. It is usually one of the lower central incisors followed soon after by the other lower central incisor.

9 months - By about 9 months of age, four front teeth at the top, and four at the bottom (called central and upper incisors), will be showing.

1 year - At a year old the lower first deciduous molars start to come through, and are the first of the back teeth. The upper first deciduous molars come through a bit later by about 14 months. The lower deciduous canines come through at about 16 months and the upper canines a couple of months later.

2 years - At age 20 - 24 months, the last of the baby teeth (the upper and lower second deciduous molars) erupt, so by the age of 2 1/2 years, all the deciduous teeth should be visible in the mouth.

6 years - Age 6 years is the time when the deciduous (milk) teeth start to drop out, and the permanent (adult) teeth start to come through in their place. The first milk tooth to be lost is the lower central incisor from around 6 years of age. It becomes wobbly and then falls out, and the permanent (adult) tooth will start to come through (erupt) soon afterwards. The first of the adult molars also start coming through at the back from around 6 years, behind all the deciduous teeth (and are called the first permanent molars).