Permanent tooth growing behind a baby tooth, what to do? How long does It take for a permanent tooth to grow? And finally, how old do teeth grow?
I. Bref Reminder on the Loss of Baby Teeth
A child starts to see his first teeth appear from his sixth month. However, this date can vary, which will influence the loss of teeth.
Eventually, about 20 teeth will come out in a child’s life before they are replaced.
The loss of baby teeth generally begins around the age of 6 or 7. But sometimes the first teeth start to fall out earlier, around 4 or 5 years old.
Baby teeth fall out when the permanent teeth start to grow in. Baby teeth form a temporary set of teeth, which help the child chew. When the adult teeth start to grow in below the gum line, the baby teeth start to move.
This happens because the baby’s teeth do not have strong roots. Once the baby teeth have fallen out, the adult teeth will grow on their roots.
II. Permanent Tooth Growing Behind a Baby Tooth, what to Do?
It can happen that when adult teeth start to come out, the baby teeth have not yet fallen out.
The same dental site is as if two teeth were competing for it: the child’s and the adult’s.
It is not always necessary to act when a permanent tooth grows behind a baby tooth. Very often, time will put things back in place and the baby tooth will fall out, allowing the permanent tooth to grow in.
However, going to see a dentist is an important option. He will be able to clarify the situation and decide whether or not it is necessary to remove the baby teeth.
The dentist will make this decision if he sees that the baby teeth are still firmly anchored in the gums. This can be done under local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the problem.
There is a risk that an adult tooth growing behind a baby tooth will grow in crooked. This can affect its alignment with the rest of the dental arch.
III. How Long Does It Take for a Permanent Tooth to Grow in?
The time it takes for a permanent tooth to grow is not fixed. An adult tooth may start to grow just after (or even before) the baby tooth has fallen out.
Just as it can happen that months after the loss of a baby tooth, the permanent tooth has still not shown up.
This is very variable. But in cases where the adult tooth takes too long to appear, a visit to a dentist should be scheduled.
It can happen that under a baby tooth there is no adult tooth bud, and an X-ray will show this.
If this is the case, a prosthesis can be considered. But often it is just a late eruption of the tooth. The dentist can then decide, if he sees the need, to place an appliance. This will leave the space that the late tooth will eventually occupy vacant. This will prevent nearby teeth from taking over the space.
IV. How Old Do Teeth Grow?
Between 6 months and 3 years, the child sees his baby teeth appear in his mouth. They will be 20 in all, and will eventually fall out to make room for adult teeth.
The permanent teeth start to appear between 7 and 12 years old. The case of wisdom teeth is quite particular. They come out at the end of adolescence, around the age of 17. Between the ages of 18 and 25, the dentition is normally complete.
It is important to understand that all these data are approximate. They can vary from one person to another. Some people never see their wisdom teeth come out, and there is no explanation for this.
Useful Links:
Tooth study prompts rethink of human evolution
How to Remove Black Stains from Teeth?
Broken tooth while eating, what to do while waiting for the dentist?