Teeth.com · Patient education
When do baby and adult teeth come in?
A simple guide to first teeth, tooth-fairy visits, and the permanent teeth that follow.
Milestones: ADA: teething · NZDA: permanent teeth arriving
These ages are usual ranges, not deadlines. Children develop at different speeds. “Eruption” means a tooth coming through the gum; “shedding” means a baby tooth falling out.
The first set · 20 teeth
When do baby teeth come in and fall out?
Baby teeth are also called primary, milk, or deciduous teeth. The lower center front teeth often arrive first. Many baby teeth stay in place until the later elementary-school years.
| Tooth | Upper teeth | Lower teeth |
|---|---|---|
| Center front teethCentral incisors | 8–12 monthsLost: 6–7 years | 6–10 monthsLost: 6–7 years |
| Side front teethLateral incisors | 9–13 monthsLost: 7–8 years | 10–16 monthsLost: 7–8 years |
| Pointed teethCanines | 16–22 monthsLost: 10–12 years | 17–23 monthsLost: 9–12 years |
| First back teethFirst molars | 13–19 monthsLost: 9–11 years | 14–18 monthsLost: 9–11 years |
| Second back teethSecond molars | 25–33 monthsLost: 10–12 years | 23–31 monthsLost: 10–12 years |
Age ranges: ADA baby tooth chart (PDF). Each row applies to the matching tooth on both sides of the mouth.
The permanent set
When do adult teeth arrive?
| Tooth | Upper teeth | Lower teeth |
|---|---|---|
| Center front teethCentral incisors | 7–8 years | 6–7 years |
| Side front teethLateral incisors | 8–9 years | 7–8 years |
| Pointed teethCanines | 11–12 years | 9–10 years |
| First premolarsFirst bicuspids | 10–11 years | 10–12 years |
| Second premolarsSecond bicuspids | 10–12 years | 11–12 years |
| First molars“Six-year” molars | 6–7 years | 6–7 years |
| Second molars“Twelve-year” molars | 12–13 years | 11–13 years |
| Wisdom teethThird molars | 17–21 years | 17–21 years |
Age ranges: ADA permanent tooth chart (PDF).
Questions parents ask
My child’s teeth don’t match the chart. What should I do?
A chart alone cannot tell whether development is normal for your child. Raise timing or eruption concerns with their dentist, who can look at the whole pattern. Arrange the first dental visit when the first tooth appears, and no later than the first birthday—even if no teeth have appeared yet. AAPD: first dental visit
When do children start losing baby teeth?
The center front baby teeth commonly fall out at 6–7 years. Other baby teeth are lost later; the chart above shows the usual range for each tooth. ADA: baby teeth and shedding ages
Is a fever just teething?
Do not assume fever, diarrhea, or a rash is caused by teething. Contact your child’s pediatrician about those symptoms. ADA: teething symptoms
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