The importance of baby teeth
Here at Dr. Amy Kuker's office, we see patients of all ages. Today, we are going to talk about baby teeth! A common misconception is that they aren't as important because the child will lose them eventually anyway. Baby teeth actually play an important role in chewing,speech development and setting the stage for permanent teeth to erupt. Baby teeth actually hold a space for permanent teeth to come in--if lost too soon,crowding can occur. When a baby tooth falls out prematurely or is lost due to decay, the permanent teeth behind that space can shift into the empty spaces.
Eruption patterns: below is a chart that shows when you can expect baby teeth to come in, and when the child will likely lose the tooth. As you can see, many baby teeth are retained and used until the age of 12.