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 Overview
A child's primary teeth, sometimes called "baby
teeth," are as important as the permanent
adult teeth. Primary teeth typically begin
to appear when a baby is between age six
months and one year. Primary teeth help
children chew and speak. They also hold
space in the jaws for permanent teeth that
are developing under the gums. The ADA
recommends that a dentist examine a child
within six months of the eruption of the
first tooth and no later than the first
birthday. A dental visit at an early age
is a "well baby checkup" for
the teeth. Besides checking for tooth decay
and other problems, the dentist can demonstrate
how to clean the child's teeth properly
and how to evaluate any adverse habits
such as thumbsucking.
Additional
Resources
ADA Dental Minute
ADA Public Service Announcements
For the Dental Patient
Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers
to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses,
treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about
dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may
be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently
Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
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