Difference between baby teeth and molars. How to distinguish a molar from a baby tooth

An even bite has a significant impact on human health. It’s not for nothing that every mother is interested in the appearance and change of her child’s bite. Questions often arise when determining the type of tooth in a child’s mouth—whether it is a baby tooth or a molar.

Expert opinion

Biryukov Andrey Anatolievich

doctor implantologist orthopedic surgeon Graduated from Crimean Medical University. Institute in 1991. Specialization: therapeutic, surgical and orthopedic dentistry including implantology and implant prosthetics.

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A change in bite is accompanied by complications and it is necessary to understand their nature.

How many teeth should a child have?

Most parents do not monitor the growth of their child's teeth. If the process is painless. Moms and dads are repelled by the fact that their baby teeth will fall out in due course; this is a false statement. The process of replacing the bite needs to be monitored.

Complete eruption of baby teeth assumes completion in children at 2.5 years. By this age, the baby has grown 20 dental units, including:

• 8 incisors;
• 4 fangs;
• 8 molars.

There is a possibility that the baby may not have erupted 20 baby teeth. If there are more teeth than required, they have an awl shape and grow to the side. The lack of teeth is caused by the destruction of their rudiments during fetal development.

Classification of teeth

By the definition of molars people mean permanent teeth. Although this concept refers to different categories. The following types are divided:

1. Incisors are the teeth in front of the lower and upper jaws. They have a sharp edge and are used when biting off pieces of food.
2. Fangs – have a thickened shape, allow you to tear apart dense food.
3. Small molars (premolars) - located fourth and fifth in the dentition.
4. Large molars (molars) - located farthest - 5,6, 8. Big teeth with a large chewing surface, like premolars, they are designed for grinding pieces of food.

Such species can be milk-bearing, but in children, only the first and second molars erupt from the chewing ones. Trouble occurs directly with the molars when determining whether it is root or temporary.

When does teeth change?

Replacing primary teeth with permanent ones is considered an important step. Usually the latter erupt after the temporary ones fall out.

The timing of appearance may shift depending on the anatomical and physiological characteristics of each baby, climatic conditions accommodation, daily diet.

The classic change of bite involves the following sequence:

• primary molars appear in children 5-6 years old;
• then the main incisors of the lower jaw are replaced;
• at the same time, the upper and lateral incisors appear on the lower jaw;
• eight to nine years of age is accompanied by a change in the upper lateral incisors;
• up to 12 years of age, small molars are replaced;
• at the age of 13, the fangs change;
• at about 14 years of age, a second pair of molars appears, which are absent among the primary molars;
• After the age of 15, adolescents begin to erupt third molars, called “wise” teeth. At times, they can remain in the gums until old age.

By medical research First, the teeth of the lower jaw fall out, then the upper. Baby teeth change in a sequence similar to their appearance.

How to distinguish a permanent molar from a milk tooth?

The change in bite occurs over time and ends around the age of 14. The rule does not include the third molars, the outer ones in the dentition, called “wisdom teeth.” They appear at an older age of 17-21 years and older.

There are cases when dental units remain under the gum surface without appearing on top of it. At active shift It is difficult for parents to remember which of the 20 primary teeth has been replaced and which has not.

They will help to accurately determine the type of molar distinctive features:

1. The enamel shade of primary molars is white, while that of root molars is light yellow.
2. The number of dental units – milk 20, permanent – ​​32.
3. Volume and shape. Temporary molars are small in size and round in shape, while permanent molars are voluminous.
4. Location – the eruption of baby teeth is carried out vertically, the permanent ones are directed with their crowns outwards towards the lips and cheek surface.
5. Age of the child. The first dental units appear in 6-7 month old babies, permanent ones - at the age of 5-6 years.
6. If the molar is the 6th or 7th, then it is a molar; the number of milk teeth on each side of the jaw can only be 5.
7. The primary molar, in contact with the gum, forms a thickening.
8. Milk teeth are represented by incisors, canines, and molars; permanent teeth additionally include premolars.
9. The roots of milkweed are thin.
10. The tubercles located on baby teeth are smooth, while on molars they are jagged.

Do you feel nervous before visiting the dentist?

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When the type of tooth is not visually determined, you should do X-ray jaws. A permanent maxillary molar will have a triple root extending into the periosteum.

Prevention of improper eruption

The formation of baby teeth and their replacement is a natural phenomenon. Despite this, diseases or dietary difficulties can affect teething and provoke dental problems.

The following factors affect the change in bite:

• genetics. Hereditary predisposition affects the rate of formation of new ones, their shade, strength, bite;
• diet - the type of foods consumed, balance, the presence in the daily menu of the required amount of protein, minerals, fiber, which influence the change processes;
• the general well-being of the child, both physical and psychological. Diseases, excessive physical exercise, emotional stress can slow down teething;
• failure to comply with oral hygiene rules. The development of carious microorganisms causes dental pathologies that can lead to the removal of baby teeth. They hold space for permanent, with early removal the eruption of constants becomes difficult.

To keep your child’s smile snow-white as he grows up, teach him to perform hygiene procedures.

Possible dental pathologies in children

Among the diseases, two to three year old children develop caries. Destruction of dental units in early age can cause complications, disruption of jaw development, displacement of permanent molars. There may be an infection in the buds of the molars.

Replaced dental units can grow crookedly if the primary ones were straight. This is due to slow jaw growth. Due to lack of space, teeth begin to squint, protrude, and grow from above.

Possible threat of “shark teeth”. This happens when the molars begin to erupt before the mammary ones fall out. The situation with teeth that grow is becoming serious back row. Then they resort to the help of an orthodontist. There are cases when the time has come to change teeth, but they do not appear. This may be due physiological reasons, genetic, adentia.f

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 later 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 will fall out in due time and be 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 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. The change in a child can occur at the same time in the upper and lower jaws or first in the upper jaw. 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, place it on the pillow a special napkin, accumulated saliva is regularly removed, and the skin around the mouth is lubricated with special protective creams.

When do teeth erupt?

This article talks about typical ways to solve your issues, but each case is unique! If you want to find out from me how to solve your particular problem, ask your question. It's fast and free!

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.

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 jaw). 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. The release of biologically active substances increases 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 various drugs- 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.

The process of a child’s teeth appearing is always interesting to parents, so they keep track of which baby teeth have fallen out and which permanent ones have come out. However, there are situations when it is not clear whether this is baby tooth in the mouth of a toddler or already a native one. How are they different and by what signs can you recognize them?

What is the difference?

Dairy

This is the name given to the first teeth that appear in a baby before the age of 2.5-3 years. They begin to erupt in most children at 6 or 7 months, when the first central incisor “pecks” on the baby’s lower jaw. Soon his “partner” also crawls out, after which the incisors are cut into upper jaw, lower lateral incisors, first molars, canines and second molars until the child has 20 teeth.

This amount will remain until about 5-6 years, after which the time will come for the eruption of the first molars.

The replacement of baby teeth with molars begins at the age of 6-7 years

Indigenous

This is the name for permanent teeth, which begin to cut on average at 6-7 years of age. The first of the molars to erupt are the molars, which occupy the sixth place in the dentition, and only after that the milk teeth begin to fall out, and their permanent replacement begins to cut in their place. At the same time, there are more molars - there are 32 of them in total, although in childhood in most cases, only 28 of them are cut through.

The last four (wisdom teeth) appear later than the others, sometimes even after the age of 30-40.

If a child only has 20 baby teeth, then there will be at least 28 molars.

How to distinguish milk from indigenous?

You can determine whether a tooth is a baby tooth or a molar tooth by its:

• Size and shape. Temporary ones are small in size and more rounded, while permanent ones are larger.
• Coloring. The color of milky ones is often white with an indistinct blue tint, while permanent ones, due to the presence of more mineralized tissues, have a yellowish tint to the enamel.
• Location. The growth of the deciduous ones occurs vertically, while the molars are slightly directed with their crowns outward towards the lips and cheeks.

Let's take a closer look at how to understand whether a baby tooth is in the baby's mouth or is already permanent, taking into account its serial number in the dentition (the number is counted from midline out):

1. If the tooth is the sixth or seventh, then it is a molar, because there will be only five milk teeth on each side of the jaw.
2. If you're looking at the fourth and fifth teeth, pay attention to the crown. The milk teeth in this place are distinguished by wider crowns and the presence of four chewing tubercles. If these are already permanent teeth, which are called premolars, they will have fewer cusps (there are only two on each tooth) and narrower crowns. At controversial situation the tooth is compared with a similar one on the other side of the dental arch.
3. When deciding whether a child’s third tooth (canine) is permanent or baby, you should also take into account its shape and size. Milk fangs are smaller in size, and by the time of physiological change, their sharp tips wear out. The permanent canines are longer, and their cusp has a distinct pointed apex.
4. When looking closely at the incisors (first and second teeth), first of all, their size is also taken into account. If they are temporary, their width is approximately 4-5 mm and their height is approximately 5-6 mm. For permanent incisors, the width of the crowns is larger - approximately 10 mm for the central ones and about 6-8 mm for the lateral ones. In addition, at the age of eruption of permanent incisors, their cutting edges are uneven (with small tubercles), while in deciduous incisors by this age the edge will always be smooth and even.

Do all dairy products change to indigenous ones?

In order for a child to have molars, absolutely all baby teeth must fall out. Some mothers think that baby molars, due to their large size, are permanent and do not fall out, but this is not the case. They will also fall out in due time, giving the opportunity for permanent premolars and molars to erupt.

Wisdom tooth - molar or milk tooth?

Wisdom teeth are the four teeth that erupt last. Based on their location in the dentition, they are also called “eights.” Since they represent the 29th, 30th, 31st and 32nd teeth in a person's mouth, they cannot possibly be primary teeth, since there are only twenty primary teeth. In addition, they are cut after the age of 17, when not a single baby tooth should normally remain in the child’s mouth.

Wisdom teeth are undoubtedly molars.

What to do if a root grows behind the dairy?

The situation when a molar has already “hatched”, but the milk tooth is in no hurry to fall out, is not uncommon. In this case, you should wait a while, allowing the baby tooth to loosen and leave the dentition.

If more than three months have passed since the appearance of a permanent tooth, and the milk tooth remains in the gum, it is worth going with your child to the dentist.

Can the root remain in the gum?

Starting from the age of five, the roots of baby teeth begin to dissolve. This process takes quite a long time, for example, the root of each incisor is resorbed within two years, and the complete resorption of the roots of molars takes about three years. However, all the roots sooner or later dissolve, and only after that the teeth fall out, so they cannot remain in the gums.

The replacement of baby teeth with permanent ones usually takes place without any problems. However, many parents worry that some processes may go wrong. Therefore, they regularly monitor the condition of the baby’s teeth. Some people wonder how to distinguish a baby tooth from a permanent one, especially when it comes to molars. Indeed, when a child is 9-10 years old, this can become a problem - the incisors have already come out and there are no problems with them, but there is confusion with the distant teeth. How to learn to distinguish between them - let's figure it out together.

Classifications of teeth

To begin with, it is worth clarifying the terminology, since many people understand the word molars to be permanent teeth. Although these are concepts from different classifications.

The following types of teeth are distinguished:

• incisorsー these are the front teeth (“ones” and “twos”), they have a sharp edge and are used for biting off pieces of food;
• fangsー slightly thicker teeth, used for tearing dense food;
• small indigenous(premolars) - these are “fours” and “fives” in the dentition;
• large molars(molars) - sixes, sevens and eights. Large teeth with a wide chewing surface serve, like premolars, for grinding food.

That is, these types can be milky, but with their own characteristics - in children, only the first and second molars are distinguished from chewing ones. And it is with molars that problems arise - how to determine whether a child has milk teeth or permanent teeth?

When does teeth change?

In order to monitor the order of teeth changing and be able to identify pathology if necessary, you should remember the time frame:

• Children's incisors change at the age of 6-8 years.
• Fangs fall out and new ones appear at 9-12 years of age.
• Molars begin to change at 9-10, and can change up to 12 years.
• Large molars erupt at the age of 11-13 years, and the last ones (“eights”, so-called “wisdom teeth”) can appear at 20-30 years.

And if you notice a change in incisors and fangs immediately - the child becomes gap-toothed and happily shows everyone his charming toothless smile, then with molars everything is not so simple.

How to distinguish a permanent molar from a baby tooth

You can distinguish between temporary and permanent teeth, first of all, by color. Milk enamel is white and even has a bluish tint. These are the teeth that are called snow-white. But the permanent ones are always a little darker and have more of a yellowish or grayish tint.

Also temporary teeth are smaller, and permanent teeth ー larger ones, molars and premolars have a large chewing surface and several large cusps on it. The molars give the impression of being impressive and strong.

The formula of the jaw row in children whose teeth have already been replaced will be similar to that of an adult - 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars and 8 molars. That is, on one side of the jaw there will be 2 small molars and 2 large molars. To understand this formula and learn to distinguish a permanent molar from a baby tooth, we recommend comparing them in the photo.

Prevention of improper eruption

The appearance of baby teeth and their replacement by permanent teeth is a natural process. However, illness or nutritional difficulties can affect eruption and lead to dental problems.

What factors influence tooth change?

• hereditary. Yes, from genetic predisposition The speed at which new ones appear, their color, strength, and sometimes their bite and growth characteristics depend;
• nutrition. Nature of food, balance, presence in diet sufficient quantity protein, mineral components, vitamins, fiber - all this affects the change process;
• physical and emotional condition child. Illness, excessive physical activity, stress at school or at home - these are factors that can cause slower teething;
• poor oral hygiene V younger age. The proliferation of carious bacteria leads to dental problems, which in advanced cases can lead to the removal of baby teeth. And the latter, in turn, hold space for permanent ones. And if baby tooth If removed early, permanent eruption will be difficult.

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Parents whose children are 6 years old need to know how to distinguish a baby tooth from a molar. A change in bite is a natural process in the body; every child goes through this stage as they grow up. But not everyone’s shift goes without complications, so in order to control the process and avoid serious problems, you need to understand the difference between molars and primary molars. To do this, you need to understand the nature of both.

Baby teeth form in the baby's gums while they are still in the womb. They erupt much later - starting at the age of 6 months. Often the appearance of the first elements of the future jaw is associated with a certain physical activity child's first attempts to stand up and walk. The appearance of the first incisors can cause discomfort child, sometimes the temperature rises or the gums become inflamed.

The surprising thing is that already during the appearance of the first bite, the rudiments of a permanent bite develop in the gums! This is why parents should pay close attention to oral health. Outdated beliefs that primary molars do not need to be treated because they will fall out anyway can lead to undesirable consequences. Deep caries will not only create extremely painful sensations, but can also lead to damage or disruption of the development of molar tooth buds located in the gums.

The enamel of the primary elements of the jaw is much thinner and more vulnerable than that of the permanent ones, so the appearance of the primary molar has a bluish tint and is not as rich white, as permanent. Such molars are easier to treat; the drill enters them easily. However, the vulnerability of the enamel leads to the easy spread of caries. It happens that children's primary molars completely rot, leaving black “stumps” in their place. Hygiene of the primary occlusion is very important; parents should teach their child to brush their teeth 2 times a day as early as possible, and it is necessary to limit the amount of sweets consumed.

The milk bite consists of 20 elements, 10 each on the upper and lower jaws. The first permanent elements appear at the age of 6–7 years, simultaneously with the loss of the first primary incisor. The first molar does not wait until space is free for it, but grows sixth in the existing row of teeth, complementing it. And there are 8–12 such molars that grow once and for all. Thus, regardless of the loss of the anterior elements of the jaw, the signal for parents to erupt permanent teeth is the appearance of “sixes”. Sevens and so-called “wisdom teeth” also immediately grow permanent. Therefore, at the beginning of the process of changing the bite, it is easy for parents to determine where which teeth are: milk teeth are 20 elements that are in the mouth of a child up to the age of six, molars appear additionally, they are sixth, seventh and eighth in the jaw.

The body provides a mechanism to ensure that the bite is replaced. The shallow and fragile roots of the milky elements of the jaw begin to gradually thin out and dissolve in the gums. It becomes much more difficult for the incisor to stay in the hole, and, pushed from below, it gradually crawls out of the gum. In order not to delay the process of the appearance of a permanent element of the bite, children can loosen their teeth, which are ready to fall out. It is useful to eat during this period solid food which will allow naturally update your bite. After the socket is released, the gums may bleed a little. It is better at this time to refrain from eating for several hours and hold a piece of sterile cotton wool on the wound. Within a few hours, a protective plug will form in the hole, which will prevent bacteria from penetrating into the gums.

The 20 bite elements located at the front of the jaw are baby teeth and must fall out to make room for permanent teeth. The root element usually appears almost immediately after its predecessor falls out, because it is he who pushes it out of the gums. If the primary incisor did not have time to leave its place, the permanent one may change the direction of its growth, which in the future will seriously affect the bite as a whole. If a molar appears before the socket is freed, you should immediately contact your dentist. The doctor will remove the retained element and determine measures to correct the growth of the new one.

The replacement of the bite occurs gradually and is completed by approximately 14 years. The exception is the third molars, the very last in the row, or, as they are also called, “wisdom teeth.” They grow into adults from 17 to 21 years of age and beyond. Often such molars remain under the surface of the gum and are not visible on the surface. During the period of active bite replacement, it is difficult for parents to remember which element of the first 20 has changed and which has not yet changed. How to determine whether a baby molar or a molar is a molar? The distinctive features of primary and permanent molars will help.

The visual differences between baby teeth and permanent teeth are as follows:

• permanent molars have an angle of inclination relative to the gum, their tops should be directed towards the cheeks, temporary molars stand straight in the gum;
• the permanent elements of the jaw have branched and deep roots, while the temporary ones have shallow and small roots;
• the milk has a thickening at the point of contact with the gum;
• the temporary crown has a more round shape;
• the primary molar has a blue tint due to the small thickness of the enamel, the permanent molar has a yellowish color;
• the neck of the molar is darker than the crown;
• The surfaces of permanent molars are distinguished by the fact that, as a rule, they contain 4 tubercles necessary for successful chewing of food.

If it is not possible to visually determine the type of tooth, it is recommended to take an X-ray of the jaw. For example, a permanent upper molar will have a triple root that extends deep into the periosteum.

In the area of ​​the root of the primary incisor, during the replacement period, the rudiment of the molar will be visible. The root will be thinned and small. The appearance of the permanent element of the jaw may be delayed, but in this case the baby tooth can still be easily identified by the characteristics of the root. It is not recommended to pull out a baby tooth in the absence of a permanent element in the gum; you need to maintain it healthy condition. Conversely, if a permanent element has already formed in the jaw, but the temporary one does not fall out, removal may be necessary.

A situation is possible when a baby molar falls out, but the permanent molar does not come out for several months. In this case, the molars, under pressure from each other and from the process of chewing food, begin to shift free place. The bite changes, the free space may disappear completely, and there will be no room left for the growing molar and it will also grow into wrong place. The problem can be solved with the help of prosthetics.

Permanent bite

There are 32 elements in the permanent dentition of an adult, and each of them is very firmly held in the gum and periosteum thanks to the roots diverging into different sides. Thanks to this structure of the roots, molars are able to withstand significant loads during chewing. Caries in enamel permanent molar will develop more slowly than in dairy. But even in the dentist’s office it will take much more time to drill a hole and put a filling. It should be noted that when a molar has just emerged, its enamel is thin, and only over time does it thicken. Therefore, during the teething period, you need to especially carefully monitor oral hygiene.

The difference between baby teeth and permanent teeth comes down to the fact that they perform their functions temporarily. Therefore, temporary occlusion is more vulnerable to diseases and requires a responsible attitude and careful care. It must be remembered that the beauty of a smile in adulthood will largely depend on the health of the primary occlusion and the correct process of its change.