As a rule, the process when temporary teeth are replaced by permanent ones begins in children at the age of six. But modern kids have one feature - accelerated development. Therefore, the loss of milk teeth in children of 5 years old is a common phenomenon in our time. During this period of the child’s life, parents are asked many questions: do I need to treat temporary teeth? Can there be problems and when should I go to the dentist? What is the pattern of baby tooth loss ? How long does this process take?
How is the change of temporary teeth?
It is a well-known fact that the norm of the number of teeth for an adult is 32. Why do children have only 20? The fact is that at 6 months, when the baby's first teeth begin to erupt, his jaw is very small. In the process of growth of the child, it lengthens. And during the shift period, two more pairs of teeth on each jaw additionally appear in the kit. They are called premolars and are located between the fangs and molars. As a result, the number of teeth increases from 20 to 28. And where else 4? These are the so-called wisdom teeth, and they will grow much later, after 17 years.
The process of tooth change is mainly painless. It turns out that temporary incisors, fangs and molars have roots that are resorbed in a certain period. As a result, milk teeth lose their support, become loose and one after another fall out. They are replaced by indigenous ones, which have a more dense structure, hard enamel and have greater endurance in comparison with temporary teeth. This is how the child’s body adapts to adult food. The procedure for the loss of milk teeth in children, the scheme and timing of this process will be given below.
The first signs of a change in temporary teeth
Thanks to some signs, you can determine that the child will soon begin the process of loss of milk teeth:
- The spaces between the teeth increase. Due to the lengthening of the growing jaw, temporary incisors, fangs and molars are at an ever greater distance from each other. The reason for contacting the dentist is that the child is already six years old, and the intervals have remained unchanged. To guide parents in terms, a special scheme for the loss of milk teeth in children has been developed. The age and sequence of replacement are described in it.
- Sagging a baby tooth. About two years before the onset of temporary incisors, fangs and molars, their roots begin to dissolve. With the transition of this process to the neck of the tooth, the latter gradually starts to stagger.
- Teething of a permanent tooth next to milk. Sometimes it happens that a temporary incisor, fang or molar has not yet fallen, and its root successor is already visible nearby. Dentists consider this a non-hazardous phenomenon. And yet, in the case when the permanent tooth erupted, and the milk, located next to it, did not fall out within three months, you should contact the dentist.
Timing and procedure for the loss of temporary teeth
Let's see how molars in children change to fallout: at what age? What is the equivalent circuit? And how long is this process? Experts say that the timing for each child is individual. The total duration of the change of incisors, molars and fangs is six to eight years. On average, the onset of “milkmen” in girls occurs at the age of six, in boys a little later. However, modern children are developing rapidly. Therefore, the pattern of loss of milk teeth in children can be tied to five years of age. Also, the start date of the process of changing incisors, molars and fangs and its duration depend on the genetic heredity of the child. Affects the impact of climatic conditions, nutrition and drinking water quality.
The sequence in which molars of primary teeth are replaced in children is graphically presented below. The deposition scheme, the photo of which is attached, shows that the incisors are replaced first, then the first molars, then the fangs line, and the last in the list, the second molars.
At six or seven years old, when the process of changing the "milkmen" starts, the first incision of the central incisors occurs. And first, this happens with the teeth of the lower jaw (in the figure they are presented at number 1), and behind them comes the turn of the upper (at number 2).
Then the lateral incisors located on the upper jaw (number 3 in the image) fall out, followed by the same lower teeth (number 4). Their change occurs when the child is seven to eight years old.
Then, the scheme of decay of milk teeth in children involves a change in the first molars of the upper and lower jaw (the figures are shown under numbers 5 and 6). This occurs at the age of nine to eleven.
The next nine to twelve years, according to the norm, the fangs of the upper jaw (number 7 in the image) should fall out, and after that - the same teeth from the bottom (represented by number 8).
The last, as evidenced by the pattern of loss of milk teeth in children, is the turn of the second molars of the lower jaw (in the figure under number 9), and followed by the upper (number 10). This happens in ten to twelve years.
Why is it important to preserve temporary teeth?
Milk teeth are more prone to the negative effects of caries than molars. And complications of this disease occur quite often. The child himself cannot realize that his tooth enamel is damaged. That is, for the diagnosis of caries, a visit to the dentist is necessary. Parents should be very responsible. After all, neglected diseases of milk teeth are a direct path to their loss, which in itself is a bad factor.
Temporary incisors, fangs and molars are the "custodians" of the place for their indigenous successors. In the event of the loss of a temporary tooth, its neighbors begin to move in order to fill the resulting void. After the indigenous followers who will grow in place of the existing dairy, there will not be enough room for normal development, and they will crawl onto each other, forming an uneven row. It is also possible a violation of their growth, displacement to the side and the formation of the wrong bite.
Removal of a deciduous tooth at the dentist: possible causes
A good pediatric dentist will never allow a tooth extraction if it can be cured and preserved. However, there are situations when you cannot do without it. Removing a temporary tooth is warranted in the following cases:
- Strong destruction of the "milkman" and the impossibility of its restoration.
- The presence of a radical cyst of a temporary tooth.
- The development of inflammation, which can subsequently lead to problems with the molar.
- Teething of a permanent tooth with not lost milk.
- Strong reeling of a milk incisor, canine or molar, which gives the child pain and discomfort.
Premature loss of temporary teeth
Above, the age limits were determined in which milk teeth in children are replaced, the pattern of loss. 5 years is the time limit after which the loss of an incisor, canine or molar is no longer considered premature, despite the fact that the child is six years old when starting to change temporary teeth in pediatric dentistry.
The causes of premature prolapse of “milkmen” can be as follows:
- Injury. The child lost a tooth as a result of mechanical impact (fall, shock).
- An abnormal bite, which in pediatric dentistry is indicated by the term “deep”. The upper jaw covers the lower, the teeth of which are subjected to excessive pressure, and there is the possibility of losing them.
- Onslaught of adjacent teeth. This happens when the milkmen grew up incorrectly. The cause of premature loss is similar to the previous paragraph - excessive pressure on a temporary incisor, canine or molar.
- Caries is in disrepair. In this case, the milk tooth simply crumbles.
- Intentional loosening of a temporary incisor, canine or molar by a child.
Temporary tooth loss
There is a situation when milk teeth are in no hurry to fall out. The reason for this may be the heredity of the child, a severe infectious disease, rickets in the baby or an unbalanced diet and, as a result, a lack of vitamins and calcium in the body.
A variant is possible when the milk tooth has not yet fallen out, and next to it its root changer is already beginning to erupt. This is called "shark teeth." There is nothing terrible, but only if, for three months, the “milkman” still gives way to a permanent tooth. Otherwise, a visit to the dentist is required.
Also, going to the dentist is necessary if the child is already eight years old, and his baby teeth are still in place.
What to do after a temporary tooth has fallen out
Usually, a tooth decay is preceded by a staggering tooth, so for a child such a moment will not come as a surprise. After the loss of a temporary canine, incisor or molar, a wound is formed at the place of its growth. To stop the blood, a sterile cotton swab or gauze should be applied to the well. After 3-5 minutes, the bleeding will stop.
Within 2 hours after the loss, the child should not be fed, and after this time it is necessary to take warm food of a uniform composition for two to three days. Solid components and large fragments should be excluded in order to avoid injury to an unprotected area of the gums. After eating, gently rinse your mouth. A cork formed at the site of tooth loss from caked blood will fall out independently within two to three days. It is strictly forbidden to remove it mechanically.
What should not be done after a temporary tooth has fallen out
After the “milkman” falls out, the child should not be bitten with very hard foods, such as nuts, crackers, caramel. It is also prohibited to use antiseptic agents (hydrogen peroxide or alcohol solutions) to cauterize the resulting wound. Do not touch the bleeding hole with your fingers to prevent infection.
If the child has a fever after a temporary incisor, canine or molar, it is an occasion to immediately contact a pediatrician. And the dentist should be contacted at least twice a year for a routine examination during the change of primary teeth.
Dental care during their shift
To keep the baby teeth healthy and healthy, the following is recommended:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft brush.
- Teach your baby to rinse your mouth every time after he ate.
- Include dairy and dairy products in the child’s diet to enrich the body with calcium.
During the change of temporary incisors, fangs and molars in a baby, adults ask such questions: when do molar teeth begin to be replaced in children? Drop pattern? And what is the duration of this process? The answers to them are in this article. The main thing for parents is to remember that they need to visit the pediatric dentist twice a year for a routine examination in order to timely identify problems, if any. This will keep the baby’s teeth beautiful and healthy.