The exact age at which baby teeth arrive is highly personalized, so try not to panic if your baby gets his first teeth a little earlier or later than average. Once they start coming in, though, most babies follow a similar schedule. Here is a loose guide to what to expect:

• Lower central incisors: The bottom middle teeth normally come in at around the same time, when the baby is between 4 and 6 months old.

• Upper central incisors: The top middle teeth usually arrive when the baby is 8 to 12 months old.

• Upper lateral incisors: Next to arrive are the teeth on either side of the top middle. Most babies are around 9 to 13 months old when they come in.

• Lower lateral incisors: The matching teeth on the bottom arch usually come in when the baby is 10 to 16 months old.

• Upper first molars: Interestingly, the next baby teeth to show up are not the next in line. The upper first molars come in next, at around 13 to 19 months old.

• Lower first molars: Next up are the lower first molars, giving your baby better chewing capabilities. They come in at approximately 14 to 18 months of age.

• Upper canines: The canine teeth fill in the gap between the incisors and the molars. The uppers appear first, when the child is 16 to 22 months old.

• Lower canines: The lower canines come in at approximately 17 to 23 months of age.

• Lower second molars: Sometime during your child’s second year of life, the lower second molars will appear, providing the growing child with even more chewing ability.

• Upper second molars: Last to arrive are the upper second molars, which are generally in place before your child’s 3rd birthday, completing a full set of 20 baby teeth.

At Family Dental Care of Bellevue, we are committed to providing quality dental care to our patients and their families. We are proud to have been voted one of the best dental offices in Washington State. If you are ready to take the first steps toward improving your dental health, we invite you to call 425-643-5778 today to make an appointment for your initial consultation.