Differences Between Baby and Adult Teeth

Although not visible when your baby is born, all his baby teeth are in place underneath the gums. These teeth, called milk teeth, can begin to come in as early as 3 months of age, but usually not until 6 to 8 months. They have slight differences as compared with adult teeth.

Permanence

Baby teeth are also called deciduous teeth because they fall out.

Losing Teeth

Baby teeth will typically begin to fall out when their roots dissolve, around the age of 5. This makes room for the larger, permanent adult teeth that grow in their place.

Anatomy

Adult teeth and baby teeth have the same internal anatomy, but adult teeth are larger.

Function

Adult and baby teeth have the same functions. There are incisors, canines and molars, which have the same functions whether they are adult or baby teeth.

Roots

Adult teeth have longer roots than baby teeth and are embedded in the jawbone.