When do baby teeth fall out and adult teeth come in? What if a tooth comes in behind?

Lower teeth often change a little before the upper ones, and girls may start slightly earlier than boys. For the first baby teeth coming through, see teething in babies.

The first permanent molar (six-year molar) comes in around age 6 behind the last baby molar, without replacing any tooth. That's why parents often take it for a baby tooth. It's a permanent tooth for life, and it's prone to decay in its first years. Protecting it with a fissure sealant is advised. See fluoride and fissure sealants.

Lower front adult teeth coming in behind the baby teeth (on the tongue side) is very common; they're sometimes called “shark teeth”. If the baby tooth is wobbly, it usually falls out by itself within a few weeks and the tongue gradually guides the adult tooth forward.

If the baby tooth isn't loose at all, or the adult tooth is fully through and the baby tooth hasn't come out within a few weeks, the dentist may need to remove it. If the adult tooth still doesn't move into line, an orthodontic assessment follows. See early orthodontics for children.

• A child can wiggle a very loose tooth with the tongue or a finger; it usually comes out by itself.
• Don't use forceful methods like tying string to a door; if the root hasn't dissolved yet the gum can tear or a piece of root can be left behind.
• Once it's out, have the child bite on clean gauze for 10–15 minutes; bleeding stops quickly.
• Avoid hot and hard food for the rest of that day.

• A baby tooth lost early to decay or a knock: Neighbouring teeth can drift into the gap; a space maintainer may be needed so the adult tooth has room. See decay in baby teeth, dental trauma.
• A baby tooth that stays well past the usual age: An X-ray checks whether there's an adult tooth underneath; it may be congenitally missing or impacted. See congenitally missing teeth, impacted canines.
• If a tooth on one side has changed but its partner hasn't after more than 6 months: Have it examined.

At Dent32 we follow the changeover at children's check-ups and, where needed, check the presence and position of adult teeth with a panoramic X-ray. See dental care for children in Beylikdüzü.

Dent32 Ağız ve Diş Sağlığı Polikliniği (Dent32 Dental Polyclinic) is at Barış Mah., Ginza Lavinya, E-5 Yanyolu No:30 D:179, 34520 Beylikdüzü, Istanbul and is open seven days a week. To book, call or WhatsApp +90 555 011 33 68, or use our contact page. At the examination we share the findings, the options and the approximate cost in writing; you are under no obligation to start treatment afterwards.

For clinic details, our dentists and the full list of treatments, visit Dent32, our dental practice in Beylikdüzü.