Cutting Teeth Out of Order??

Updated on January 23, 2008
M.Y. asks from Palatine, IL
22 answers

My soon to be 10month old son has had his 2 bottom teeth in for awhile, and has 2 upper canines in. His top middle teeth haven't come in yet..and doesn't appear to be coming up anytime soon. I think it's pretty cute that he looks like a little vampire, but should I be concerned? I asked my dentist and he said not to worry at this point and wait it out a few more months and that sometimes teeth can come up out of order. Did anyone else's baby have this same issue and eventually have a normal full set of teeth? Thanks!

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S.K.

answers from Merced on

I thought I was the only one! My son cut the two "fangs" in advance of any other teeth. The others followed within a month or two.

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R.L.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't have this issue, but I noticed you live in the bay area..where exactly? I live in Santa Rosa and have a 16 month old little boy. I'm 26 and have been married for 5 years in june. My son has 4 top teeth and the 2 bottom teeth, but so far nothing else coming through

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K.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi Carol,
My now 4.5 year old son's teeth came in out of order, though, unfortunately, he never looked like a vampire! That's pretty cool :) His teeth all came in eventually. My son didn't have any teeth before he was one year old. While there is a pattern and timing that appears more frequently than others, deviations from this pattern aren't necessarily a problem. They definitely were not for my son.
K.

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D.C.

answers from Sacramento on

I work in the dental field, I don't believe you need to worry just yet. Boys typically are a little slower at getting their teeth, my son got all in about three bouts of teething(very unusual) see so just wait it out. In a few months you could ultimately take a digital x-ray,(less radiation)

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N.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi Carol. I am a dentist, and, of course, knew the order in which my son's teeth were supposed to come in. I was so surprised when they came in exactly like your son's (just in time for Halloween, too)! He now has all his teeth, and they are perfectly fine. My second son's teeth came in in a different order, but still not the "expected" order. From my experience (talking to patients), the eruption of teeth varies widely from one child to the next (even within the same family), and this shouldn't be anything to worry about. Hope this helps!

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R.C.

answers from Sacramento on

My nine month old daughter has the exact same thing going on with her teeth. She looks like a little vampire! My mother is an RN and she says it happens more than people think. If the two front teeth haven't come in by 1 yr you need to see your pediatrician. If you are really worried about it go now and get a professional opinion to put your mind at rest. For now, I am loving the pictures, something I can't wait to pull out for a teenage boyfriend!

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C.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Like your dentist said I wouldn't be worried...especially when some infants don't even start getting teeth until 12 months or after. I am a dental hygienist and see different scenarios all the time. Give it 3-6 months and then if nothing have your dentist take an x-ray to see what's going on.

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D.F.

answers from Stockton on

teeth coming in out of order is normal, i went through it with my oldest and now my youngest has 2 front bottom teeth and a molar and has 4 front top teeth. i wouldnt worry about it.

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C.S.

answers from San Francisco on

My younger son's teeth are also coming in out of order. Not like that, exactly. He has his two front teeth on top and he has the four on bottom in front and then his molars came in. And that's it. (He's 19 months old.) Right now there's no sign of his next teeth coming out ANYwhere and it's been that way for about two months or so.
I have weird teeth in my family so I'm not so sure his are normal but the doctors and my older son's dentist have all told me not to worry about it yet. Anyway, it's nothing some orthodontics can't cure when he gets bigger. I had to have braces so I guess it's inevitable. Don't worry. It sounds very cute, anyway!

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J.L.

answers from San Francisco on

That's the way my daughter started with her teeth now she'll be 12mo. next month an she is now getting her front two teeth so I wouldn't worry about it. J.

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J.B.

answers from Fresno on

You did the proper thing and asked your dentist. He said don't worry about it -- so, don't worry about it!!! That is why we have professionals available. What can you do about it anyway at his age???

Find something important to worry about, or just stop worrying. 99% of the things we worry about don't happen anyway.

A Grandmother

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K.E.

answers from Fresno on

My 13 month old has his 4 top teeth and only 3 bottom teeth with no signs of getting more anytime soon. (the 7 teeth he has he got around 5-6 months old) I'm also concerned and am waiting to get into a dentist. Can't wait to see what other moms say about this! But know that you are not alone!

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H.G.

answers from Fort Collins on

Carol,
My daughter did the same thing! We called her our little vampire baby. Her top two came in eventually, despite our worrying.
Congrats on your little boy.

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E.L.

answers from Sacramento on

My daughter's teeth came in in the same order. We called her "fang"...it was really cute. She's now 7 1/2 with normal teeth. I was wondering it her "fangs" would come OUT before her front teeth, since they came in first, but that doesn't seem to be the case. She now has wiggly front teeth.
Definately take pictures. My daughter loves to look at the pictures from when she was little. She loves all the cute funny things that have happened along the way.

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M.O.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi Carol,
My 4 1/2 year old girl had NO teeth at 9 months old! My pediatrician told me there is no "norm" for teeth. They come when they're ready. She is almost 5 and has the most beautiful set of teeth. :-) Her dentist tells me that if her teeth came in late, she may be a little late in losing them for the permanent teeth--which can be a blessing since she will have a bigger mouth (more jawline) and less risk of crowding. Hang in there with your little vampire! I bet he's adorable!
-M.

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A.R.

answers from Redding on

Hi Carol,
My son too had his teeth come in "out of order". I was worried, thinking they had a particular order they were suppose to come in, but to my surprise and happiness the rest came in and again in no particular order. Now he is 18 and out the door with a beautiful smile for me. Advise: Don't forget to take a picture.

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R.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Don't worry! The guidelines they give are typical for most kids but some march to the beat of their own drum.

My nephew had the vampire look and just in time for Halloween!! My daughter teethed late (we had to postpone her 1 year dental appointment because she had no teeth). She eventually started teething around 13-14 months and got them out of order and in batches quickly almost overnight it seemed. She didn't lose her first tooth until 2nd grade and while she's "behind" her friends in that department, she's right on track for her development according to her dentist.

My little sister had a friend who was born with her front 4 teeth. I was 10 at the time so I remember seeing the baby (the mom was worried and asked my mom for advice). That baby is a beautiful mom herself now with 5 children of her own.

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J.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I was told that my teeth came in the exact same way and that I too looked like a vampire:-) My teeth all came in and everything was fine. I say--take lots of pictures and don't worry!

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C.B.

answers from Sacramento on

My daughter had her two bottom teeth first, then she got the one left of middle, left middle, right middle then the one right of middle (in that order). Now at 17 months she has four top, four bottom, four molars and the eye teeth are all coming in. She has a great smile with lots of teeth.:) I'm sure he'll have a beautiful smile and probably already does! :)

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L.R.

answers from Sacramento on

My nephew did the same thing. He looked like a little vampire! He is a senior in high school now with beautiful teeth. Having been a registered dental assistant for 17 years, I have seen a lot of variations to the normal eruption. Give your son some time and I'm sure the others will erupt. You can always take him to a pedodontist if you are really concerned, but I suggest waiting a few months.
L. R.

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R.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi. My daughter is now nineteen, off enjoying college with a full set of teeth. Yes, hers came in 'out of order' according to the norm, and they took longer than the norm, but they did all eventually show up where they were supposed to. I think like everything else with kids, they do it in their own time. All those 'normal' timetables are just approximations. Trust the wisdom of your child's unfolding! His teeth are just the beginning. Enjoy it all. have a delightful day. R.

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T.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi Carol! Listen to your dentist and don't worry! I am a dental hygienist and teeth erupting out of order is not uncommon. It is also extremely rare to not have central incisors. Don't forget to start gently brushing those beautiful new teeth and as I'm sure you are doing already, giving him his fluoride. Enjoy the age!

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