Straight Talk About Teeth
- scarver5
- Mar 19
- 4 min read
Some tips and trivia
How many baby teeth are there…really?
20 total: with 10 on the top and 10 on the bottom
Baby teeth are all usually present by age 2, begin to fall out by age 6 and are completely replaced by age 13… This is an average estimate. Keep in mind, when it comes to teeth, EVERYONE is different.
Teething schedules vary between individuals and even kids in the same family. If the teeth are delayed significantly in coming in or going out, it is important to check in with a dentist.
How many adult teeth are there… really?
32 including the wisdom teeth, although the wisdom teeth often don’t appear until age 18.
The first permanent teeth to replace baby teeth are the two lower front teeth. This usually happens around the age of 6. They often come in on the tongue side of the front teeth and the tongue helps move them forward.
The second permanent teeth to come in are the first permanent molars or “6-year molars” which generally appear around age 6. They are located in the back of the mouth and do not replace a baby tooth.
Cavities on baby teeth…does it matter? They just fall out anyway…
Answer: Yes, it matters. Baby teeth are important in many ways ranging from speaking, chewing, to growth of the jaw itself.
Each baby tooth is replaced by a permanent tooth
When cavities in the baby tooth move into the bone, the infection can damage the tooth below.
Baby teeth save the space in the mouth for the developing permanent teeth.
When a baby tooth is lost early, its space is taken over by the teeth beside it. That means that the permanent tooth growing below will be left with little or no space of its own. This creates more crowding with new problems and more expenses.
Do all cavities have to be drilled and filled?
Not always based on multiple considerations such as, and not limited to, the size of the cavity, lifespan of the baby tooth in the mouth, willingness of the patient and family to make prevention adaptations to their diet and brushing.
With new advances in topical medications such as silver nitrate or silver diamine fluoride, surface cavities can be arrested or stopped without requiring invasive procedures.
Prevention is always the best start to manage the risks for cavities. Prevention starts with consistent dental exams, and the development of a treatment approach that is customized to the specific needs and capacity of the patient and the family.
Sealants: A bumper to bumper 100,000 mile warranty
The chewing surface of the back teeth looks like the Cascade Mountain Range from above. Meaning, there are many ridges, with deep canyons and valleys on the tooth’s surface.
Often these canyons or grooves are very deep. Unfortunately, the deeper the grooves and pits, the more difficult it is to keep clean at the very bottom.
Sealants are a plastic cover that is liquid when it flows into and over the grooves of the back teeth. The sealant hardens and turns a deep groove into a shallow one that a toothbrush can easily keep clean.
The straight line on crooked teeth and braces
Spacing between the front teeth will often close as the remaining permanent teeth grow into the mouth. Crooked teeth are not the same. When the front teeth are crowded to begin with, it is guaranteed to increase as the rest of the permanent teeth erupt.
An early visit to the orthodontist, between 6-7 years of age, can identify little problems before they become bigger ones and assess the ultimate spacing needs of a child.
An early visit doesn’t always mean early braces. An early visit does mean early information, which in terms of prevention, intervention, and planning, can be priceless.
When sports and teeth collide…
As strong as teeth are, they are rarely a match for a baseball or an elbow. As a result, a tooth can be broken, moved in its place, or knocked out of the mouth completely. Here is a short list in managing a tooth collision.
Broken teeth: rinse the mouth with cold water to clean the area, put a cold compress on the face and call your dentist. If a jaw injury is suspected, an emergency room visit is warranted.
Moved teeth: the teeth will hit differently as they have been moved to a new position. Example: the front teeth hit the bottom teeth too early. Call your dentist immediately. Remember, if a jaw injury is suspected, an emergency room visit is warranted.
Knocked-out teeth: First question: Baby tooth or Permanent tooth?
Baby Tooth: Knocked out, leave it out. The growing permanent tooth could be injured by pushing the baby tooth back into the socket.
Permanent Tooth: Time is of the essence. Teeth are alive and can actually be put back in place and will survive if this is done quickly. Hold the tooth by the crown (not root) and rinse with water if it is dirty. DO NOT SCRUB IT. This is important because the live part is on the outside and the inside of the root. Put it back in the socket if possible. If not, put it in a cup of milk and get to the dentist quickly. Finally, if jaw or head injury is suspected, call the dentist, but an emergency room visit is warranted.
Remember: “Save a tooth, wear a mouth guard”
For more information…
Should you have any questions regarding your child’s dental or orthodontic needs please feel free
to contact us. Bend 541-317-1887, Redmond 541-923-1300 or email us: info@bluefishdental.com
Brought to you by:
Dr. Cate Quas
Bend | 2565 NE Butler Market Rd Bend, OR 97701
541-317-1887
Redmond | 1429 SW 15th Street Redmond, OR 97756
541-923-1300
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