Do all whales have teeth? Does a snail have teeth?

When teething, baby teeth give children the first pain, but molars are even more troubling. They are much larger, so their eruption causes significant discomfort, pain and even an increase in temperature. Some parents are often confused about which teeth are milk and which are molars; they do not know basic things: how many there are, in what order they should appear, which milk teeth fall out first.

Not every parent can figure out offhand how things are going with children’s teeth - are they milk teeth or have they already been replaced by permanent ones?

How do children erupt molars?

By the end of the first year of life, the baby should already have 8 milk teeth. Their earlier or late eruption is also normal, because every child has physical development individually. All 20 baby teeth should usually appear by 3-3.5 years. The whole kit looks like this:

  • four incisors above and below;
  • then 2 fangs on each jaw;
  • 4 premolars (as the first molars are called in dentistry);
  • 4 molars (2nd molars).

All these teeth in allotted time fall out and are replaced by permanent ones, only the third molars, that is, the 6th molars, immediately grow as permanent teeth, because they do not have milk predecessors, as, indeed, do the 7th and 8th molars. Many parents believe that baby teeth are without roots, meaning they will easily fall out on their own. However, dairy products have the same structure as permanent teeth: there is a root, nerves, enamel. By the way, the structure of the milk nerves is more complex, which makes such teeth more difficult to treat. In addition, they are much more vulnerable, because the enamel still contains few minerals - in case of damage or caries, a child experiences the same pain as an adult. When the time comes for a baby tooth to fall out, the root dissolves, and its crown falls out on its own or is removed easily and without pain.

Following the milk teeth, premolars appear, that is, the first permanent teeth. A child’s change can occur at the same time on the upper and lower jaw or first on the top. The permanent tooth is large in size; when erupting, a significant part of the gum is damaged, causing it to swell and the temperature to rise - the child endures this process painfully.

Within 2 months, eruption occurs, the temperature may rise, the process is accompanied by copious discharge saliva - this causes irritation around the mouth, so parents need to keep it dry skin. Before going to bed, a special napkin is placed on the pillow, accumulated saliva is regularly removed, and the skin around the mouth is lubricated with special protective creams.


A child’s teeth completely change only by the age of 12-13 - then his jaw becomes indistinguishable from an adult’s and all the torment is finally left behind

When do teeth erupt?

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As a rule, the incisors come in first and they also fall out first. In children, the period of teeth eruption and subsequent loss can vary significantly. The pattern of teeth appearance can be most clearly seen in the following tables:

Here is a graph of the appearance and loss of baby teeth, but permanent teeth appear in exactly the same sequence, but take up more space. The first and usually the largest molar appears in place of the first incisors, which gradually become loose and fall out. The formation of incisors occurs from 6 to 9 years.

Following the central incisors, the lateral and then the canines change (usually between 9 and 11 years). The first premolars emerge at 10-12 years of age, and the second molars are fully formed by the age of 13. The so-called wisdom teeth can appear as early as 18 years of age, but the time can last up to 25 years. Sometimes “eights” do not appear at all, but this is not a pathology.


Visual diagram schedule for changing teeth in children

Symptoms of the appearance of molars in children

Parents should know when molars erupt and fall out, because when they erupt, symptoms appear that need to be recognized. The first large molar that appears can even frighten the child himself. Recognition early symptoms will help parents respond correctly to their manifestation and help children reduce torment. The following symptoms can be identified:

  1. Enlargement of the jaw (usually the lower one). Children's new teeth are much larger than their baby teeth, so the jaw grows to make room for them to emerge.
  2. Fever. Since the new tooth processes are thicker and larger, the gums swell, the blood flow into them increases, and the immune system reacts to this as a manifestation of the disease. Increases release biologically active substances to relieve swelling, which is why the temperature rises.
  3. Increased salivation. As with the eruption of baby teeth, saliva begins to be released intensively, only now the child is big and can take care of his mouth himself, wiping away drool, avoiding irritation of the skin around the mouth.
  4. Redness of the gums and other areas in oral cavity. A rush of blood can be considered a clear sign that new teeth are coming in.
  5. Night sleep disturbance. Painful sensations gums prevent children from sleeping peacefully: the child wakes up, tosses and turns, even cries in his sleep, and the temperature may rise.

How to help your baby?

Very young children, when they are teething, are recommended to be given special rings made of silicone or rubber. It is also recommended to eat a lot of solid food: crackers, dry cookies, apples, carrots. The last recommendation is also suitable for preschool children.

Sore gums when children are teething can be relieved by various medications - for example, gels with lidocaine. It must be remembered that the child may experience allergic reactions, even anaphylactic shock, therefore, before using “Cholisal”, “Kamistad”, “Dentinox”, it is better to check each of them.

The completely harmless “Kalgel” is contraindicated for those children who have diathesis (we recommend reading:). For a child with allergies, “Baby Doctor” or dental ointment “Solcoseryl” are best suited.

Milk teeth are something from the realm of a carefree and touching childhood, most of us are sure. It is not for nothing that the Scottish writer James Barrie, in the fairy tale about Peter Pan - a boy who did not want to grow up and remained forever young - specifically mentions that “his mouth was full of pearly milk teeth. None have fallen out yet.” Replacing baby teeth with permanent ones is the same step in adult life, like first class and first deuce.

The change of teeth begins at the age of 5–6 and usually ends by the age of 14–16. Moreover, according to the observations of doctors, at present, children’s milk teeth are replaced by permanent ones at a more rapid rate. younger age than a few decades ago. But sometimes baby teeth persist into adulthood. WITH similar cases people collide at 20, 30, and even 50 years old! Why does this happen and what should be done in this case?

Why didn't my baby tooth fall out?

The structure of temporary and permanent teeth has certain differences. Dairy teeth have the same shape as molar teeth, but they are smaller in size, their roots are much shorter, and they grow in the amount of only 20 pieces versus 32 permanent ones, including wisdom teeth. The service life of “children’s” teeth is also short: their roots begin to dissolve (dentists say “resorb”) approximately 2 to 3 years after they are fully formed. The process begins from the area where the crowns of the permanent teeth growing underneath touch them.

However, it happens that the rudiments of molars do not form for some reason. In this case, the roots of the milk teeth most often dissolve under the influence of the rudiments of adjacent permanent teeth. But sometimes this does not happen, and then “children’s” teeth are preserved in adults - doctors call them persistent, from the Latin persistere - to remain, to remain.

The reasons for the absence of permanent tooth buds can be different. Sometimes it's hereditary characteristics, metabolic or glandular disorders internal secretion, injuries and osteomyelitis of the jaws. Chronic and acute injuries can also lead to damage and death of the rudiments of permanent teeth. inflammatory processes in baby teeth – in particular, periodontitis that is not cured in a timely manner.

It also happens that the rudiments of permanent teeth, although they are formed, lie very deep, without touching the roots of milk teeth. This may be caused by insufficient space or misalignment of the permanent tooth. In these cases, milk teeth can remain in an adult.

What to do if an adult’s baby teeth don’t fall out?

Of course, baby teeth often cause problems in adults. Firstly, they are designed for short term services, and therefore their resistance to caries is much lower than that of permanent teeth. Secondly, baby teeth that do not fall out in time can interfere with the growth of permanent teeth and lead to their incorrect location. However, this does not mean at all that found in an adult baby tooth must definitely be removed. It all depends on each specific case. Most often, doctors recommend keeping well-preserved baby teeth in adults - let them last as long as they can. After all, the permanent ones may never emerge in their place.

In any case, the question of the fate of a baby tooth in an adult is decided only after it has been done X-ray. This will help to find out whether there are rudiments of an unerupted permanent tooth, as well as whether the roots of the baby tooth are being reabsorbed. If there are no rudiments and the roots of the baby tooth have not resolved, while the baby tooth is motionless and looks quite aesthetically pleasing, then it is not worth removing it. The same applies to cases when permanent tooth, judging by the x-ray, is in such a position that even after the removal of a baby tooth, it is impossible for it to erupt.

Is it possible to grow a baby tooth on an adult?

If the baby tooth is mobile or does not suit you from an aesthetic point of view, you still need to start with X-ray examination. If the x-ray reveals that there are no permanent tooth buds, and the roots of the baby tooth have resolved, while the baby tooth has mobility of 3–4 degrees (that is, the tooth is very mobile), then it should be removed and further decide what type Prosthetics are more suitable for you to replace the loss.

If you are not satisfied appearance tooth, it is necessary, again using an x-ray, to determine the condition of the rudiments of the permanent tooth and the roots of the milk tooth. Further decisions will depend on each specific case, including the age of the patient and the place in the dentition of the baby tooth. If there are no rudiments and the roots of the baby tooth have not resolved, then you can install a veneer on it or carry out a tooth restoration, which will make it invisible in the dentition. And for those who want to completely transform theirs, we can recommend getting lumineers.

If there are rudiments of a permanent tooth, in this case it is worth assessing how much time they need before erupting and making a decision about removing the baby tooth and “pulling out” the permanent one.

Although milk teeth in adults are an anomaly, this is not a reason to necessarily part with them - they can still serve you well. long years. However, it is possible that this “greetings from childhood” prevents the permanent tooth from growing. So, if you suddenly have a baby tooth, be sure to take an x-ray and consult a specialist.

The process of dental formation in humans goes through two main stages. The first is the eruption of milk teeth, and the second is their replacement with permanent ones (more details in the article:). Usually both periods are associated with many associated unpleasant symptoms. Except painful sensations cutting teeth may be the cause bad sleep and appetite, moodiness, elevated temperature, and in some cases even vomiting and diarrhea. Parents should have information about the timing, symptoms, rules of oral care at these stages and all the nuances of teething and changing teeth in order to alleviate the child’s condition.

How many teeth should a child have?

It is a well-known fact that an adult’s smile consists of 32 teeth. However, how many of them are there in children? By the end of the process of eruption of all primary teeth, which ends approximately at the age of 2 to 2.5 years, the child should have 20 dental units, which include:

  • eight incisors, four each in the lower and upper rows;
  • four fangs;
  • eight molars.

There is a standard scheme for the eruption of baby teeth in children, which shows the average time and sequence of their appearance (see also:). It is presented in the table below:

However, there are cases when the process of teeth formation in a child is disrupted:


It is possible that the child will not have 20 milk teeth, but more or less. In the first case, the extra ones look like an awl and grow to the side. In the second, the lack of dental units is due to the death of their rudiments during gestation.

Structure and features of eruption of baby teeth

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The first temporary human teeth were called milk teeth by a healer, doctor and philosopher. Ancient Greece Hippocrates, known in history as the father of medicine. In his opinion, their development is due to breast milk, which children receive at the beginning of their lives, as it is rich in calcium, necessary for the growth of bone tissue.


Milk teeth and their roots have their own differences and structural features. Their condition is largely due to nutritious food child.

Resembling permanent molar units in structure and shape, they do not have the same strength, and their enamel is much thinner. They are also characterized by:

  • small crown size;
  • slightly diverging roots, between which are located the rudiments of future permanent teeth;
  • large volume of pulp;
  • large width of root canals.

As for roots and nerves, contrary to the myth about their absence, milk teeth have the same number of them as molars (we recommend reading:). During the period of eruption of the first teeth, the roots also grow, stopping growth at the end of this process. Further, when baby teeth are replaced by permanent ones, the roots are reabsorbed.

In general, the development of primary, or replacement, teeth is divided into 5 stages:

The sequence of changing teeth in a child

Second important stage is the replacement of primary teeth with permanent ones. In most cases, the latter appear after the temporary ones drop out. Below is a standard diagram of how teeth change, with time intervals and sequence of loss:

According to statistics, they usually fall out first lower teeth, followed by the top ones. According to the scheme, the replacement of baby teeth occurs in the same sequence as their appearance.

Differences between permanent molars and baby teeth

Despite the fact that temporary and permanent teeth have the same structure, there are a number of signs that will help you understand how to distinguish a baby tooth from a molar. You can determine which tooth is present in the oral cavity by:


Temporary and permanent teeth also differ in what numbers are used to designate them in the dental formula (see also:). For dairy animals these are Roman numerals, for example, I and II are incisors, III are canines, IV and V are molars, and for molars they are Arabic: 1 and 2 are incisors, 3 are canines, 4 and 5 are premolars, 6,7 and 8 - molars. There are people who do not have eights, better known as wisdom teeth.

Is it possible to tell by external signs whether a tooth is permanent or baby?

To find out which class a tooth belongs to, you do not need to be an experienced dentist and know everything about the structure of the jaw and what the root system and periodontal itself look like. Help to distinguish baby teeth from molars external signs, which are visible even in the photo. They include:

  1. Size. Firstly, baby teeth are smaller than molars in general. Secondly, the permanent ones are more elongated, that is, they are smaller in width than the temporary ones.
  2. Form. The cusps that are present on baby teeth are smooth, while on molars they are jagged, called mamelon.
  3. Enamel color. As mentioned earlier, the thin and rich enamel of baby teeth is distinguished by its whiteness, while in primary teeth it is characterized by a yellowish color.

Possible dental pathologies in children

Children's teeth are still weak and therefore more susceptible to various dental diseases, neglect of treatment of which can become a serious complication in the future. This also applies to baby teeth, despite the fact that they are about to be replaced.

The most common dental disease in children is caries, which can be diagnosed as early as 2-3 years. If teeth begin to decay in such early age, this may provoke serious complications, such as pathologies of jaw development and displacement of molars. In addition, the buds of permanent teeth can also become infected.

After a change, teeth may grow crooked, even if the milk teeth were straight. Most often the reason lies in slow growth the jaw itself. As a result, the teeth do not have enough space, and they begin to protrude, warp and grow above others. The habit of sucking a finger or other objects can also contribute to this.

There is also a risk of growth of so-called shark teeth. This phenomenon is observed when the permanent ones have already begun to erupt, and the milk ones have not yet fallen out in their place. The situation is considered especially serious if there are not one, but several such teeth growing in the back row. In this case, you cannot do without the help of an orthodontist.

It also happens the other way around - the time has come to replace teeth with permanent ones, but they do not grow. This can be explained either physiological delay associated with heredity, or edentia - the absence of rudiments of molars.

From this article you will learn:

  • How many teeth should a person normally have?
  • in which cases there are fewer teeth,
  • human dental formula: diagram, numbering of teeth.

Human teeth can be temporary or permanent. Temporary (baby) teeth normally begin to erupt in children from 8 months to 3 months. summer age. In total, the child must erupt 20 milk teeth - 10 teeth in the upper jaw + 10 in the lower jaw.

Starting from the age of 6, temporary teeth begin to gradually fall out, and permanent molars erupt in their place. Most permanent teeth erupt between the ages of 6 and 12, and only the eruption of the last 8 teeth (wisdom teeth) usually occurs between the ages of 17 and 21. In total, an adult can erupt 32 teeth - 16 teeth in the upper jaw + 16 in the lower jaw.

Teeth of a child and an adult on x-rays –

Thus, how many teeth a person has depends on age. Normally, in children at the time of completion of eruption, all temporary teeth– there will be 20 of them. Then the period of replacing baby teeth with permanent teeth begins, after which a person will normally have 32 permanent teeth (read about exceptions below).

Numbering of teeth in dentistry: scheme for adults and children

The numbering of teeth in dentistry seems to be a very interesting point, because... a patient can often hear or read in a medical card that the doctor treated his 37th or 42nd tooth (although there are only 32 of them). The fact is that tooth numbers in dentistry do not correspond to simple ordinal numbers from 1 to 32 in adults, and from 1 to 20 in children.


Formula of teeth in the medical record –

The dental formula of an adult (as well as a child) is in medical card dental patient looks in the form of a schematic table (as in Fig. 5), which will reflect only the serial numbers of permanent or baby teeth. Right in this formula, the doctor will mark missing teeth, teeth with caries, teeth under crowns, etc.

Dental formula in the form of a table in the medical record –

What are the exceptions to the number of teeth?

There are situations when the number of teeth a person has differs from the norm. For example, the rudiments of some teeth may be completely absent, or they die during development. As a rule, this is a consequence of diseases either suffered by the mother during pregnancy, or diseases of the child in the first years of life.

There are situations when a child may experience delayed teething, and parents are worried about this. It should be noted that in modern children, early or late teething is observed in approximately 30-40% of cases from standard periods. This process is influenced not only by diseases of the mother and child, but even by the nature of nutrition during breastfeeding.

Important : have a great influence on the eruption of permanent teeth inflammatory diseases at the roots of baby teeth (the latter arise as a consequence of untreated caries). can lead not only to a delay in the eruption of a permanent tooth, but also to the death of the permanent tooth germ. In the latter case, there will be no permanent tooth in this place.

Supernumerary teeth

However, it also happens the other way around, when during the formation of the rudiments of teeth, disturbances occur, leading to the appearance of supernumerary teeth. Supernumerary canines or premolars are especially common. In this case, the patient will not have 32 teeth, but all 34 or even 36 teeth. The presence of such teeth is not a problem, and the patient is simply scheduled for their removal. We hope that our article on the topic: How many teeth does an adult have – was useful to you!

The basis of the human skeleton is the bone apparatus. Almost all bones are protected soft tissues. It’s “almost”, since the exception is teeth. They are not covered with muscles, mucous membrane, or skin.

Fortunately for humans, teeth change only once during life. But this does not make it any less significant. Including compliance with hygiene standards, the number of teeth already in mature age, their internal safety and appearance.

There are differing opinions about how many teeth a person should have healthy person, carefully monitoring their health and, in particular, oral hygiene.

Everyone knows: “32 teeth is the norm!” What to do with the so-called? Are they included in this number? Or is this a nice addition to this kit?

How many teeth a healthy mouth should have depends not only on age, but also on individual physiological characteristics.

The third molars, located in front of the “eight”, have up to 5 roots, which can be tightly woven into a single, denser, stronger one. But wisdom teeth have up to 8 roots at once. This is explained by its location close to the pulp. The canals of such teeth can bifurcate, and sometimes several canals are found in one root. For this reason, when removing wisdom teeth, it is imperative to take a photo.

Only in this way will the doctor be able to determine the number of roots and canals of the molar.

Age characteristics

Teeth change throughout life. If in children they are weakly fixed, then in adults completely different processes are observed.

With age, teeth wear out, and an experienced dentist can quite accurately determine the patient’s age based on the degree of wear. Also, wear and tear depends on the texture of the food eaten and physiological characteristics.

Up to the age of 16, no signs of erasure are visible. But by the age of 20, a slight smoothness appears on the teeth, which is quite natural for this age.

Over the next ten years, the tubercles and sharp cutting edges are overgrown with a dentin coating - bone substance. At the age of 45, serious wear of the crown protrusions is already visible, and dentin appears in significant areas.

At the age of 60 they are completely worn out as tooth enamel, and the crown. After 70 years, only the neck and roots remain. Although by this time most of teeth fall out or are pulled out due to caries.

To summarize, a healthy person should have at least 28 teeth, this is already considered the norm. Depending on a number of nuances, by the age of 30, fourth molars may also erupt, thereby bringing their number to 32.