Deciduous teeth
Deciduous Teeth
Deciduous teeth (/dɪˈsɪdʒuəs/), also known as baby teeth, milk teeth, temporary teeth, and primary teeth, are the first set of teeth in the growth development of humans and other mammals. They develop during the embryonic stage of development and erupt—that is, they become visible in the mouth—during infancy. They are usually lost and replaced by permanent teeth, but in the absence of permanent replacements, they can remain functional for many years.
Etymology
The term "deciduous" means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", which is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe. In a similar manner, the deciduous teeth, also known as milk teeth, are so named because they are eventually shed just like leaves from a deciduous tree.
Development
Deciduous teeth start to form during the embryo stage of human development. The development of deciduous teeth starts at the sixth week of development as the dental lamina. This process starts at the midline and then spreads back into the posterior region. By the time the embryo is eight weeks old, there are ten buds on the upper and lower arches that will eventually become the deciduous teeth.
Eruption
The process of shedding deciduous teeth and the replacement by permanent teeth is called exfoliation. This process can start as early as age four or as late as age seven. Usually, the first teeth seen in the mouth are the mandibular centrals and the last are the maxillary second molars.
Related Terms
- Permanent Teeth: The set of teeth that erupt after the deciduous teeth. They are a total of 32 teeth in a complete set.
- Tooth Eruption: The process by which a tooth moves from its site of development within the jaws to its final functional position in the oral cavity.
- Dental Lamina: The band of epithelial tissue seen in histologic sections of a developing tooth.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Deciduous teeth
- Wikipedia's article - Deciduous teeth
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