Dental Health Tips

General Tips

1. The current recommendation by the Canadian Dental Association is that a child should have his/her first dental visit any time after their first tooth or first birthday. This will allow proper guidance in their dental growth and development. It will also allow detection and prevention of possible future dental problems.

2. It is recommended that everyone should have regular dental check-ups twice a year, unless advised otherwise by a dentist.

3. A complete set of primary (baby) teeth consists of 20 teeth. The baby teeth will exfoliate (fall out) on average at:
   

   • 6 - 7 years for the centrals (first front tooth)
   • 7 - 8 years for the laterals (second tooth)
   • 9 - 11 years for the canines (corner tooth)
   • 10 - 12 years for the second baby molars

4. A complete set of adult teeth consists of 32 teeth, including the wisdom teeth. The first adult molar, on average, erupts (comes through the gums into the mouth) at the age of 6-7 years. This adult molar will erupt behind the second baby molar in the empty space.

5. Wisdom teeth (third adult molars) on average erupt at age 17-21 years. Not everyone has wisdom teeth. If they are present, the dentist will diagnose if the wisdom teeth will need to be removed (extracted).