Which Tooth Is Next? Using a Permanent Teeth Chart

The next tooth your child is likely to get depends mainly on age. From about 6 to 7, most children get first permanent molars in the back and lower front adult teeth. From 7 to 9, upper and lower front teeth usually swap; from 9 to 12, the side teeth fill in; after about 12, second molars and sometimes wisdom teeth arrive. Check the back of the mouth first, because those first molars often arrive without any baby tooth falling out.

A permanent teeth chart is a guide for questions, not a timer. Most early or late timing is still normal.

How to Read a Permanent Teeth Chart

A permanent teeth chart is really a matching tool. It usually has four main columns:

• Baby tooth: the tooth that will eventually fall out.
• Usual shedding age: the normal window when that baby tooth gets loose and falls out.
• Permanent tooth: the adult tooth that replaces it.
• Usual eruption age: the normal window when the adult tooth breaks through the gum.

“Eruption” simply means a tooth breaks through the gum.

To use the chart, start with your child’s current age. Find where that age falls and see which teeth are in that window. That tells you the likely next tooth to watch for. The ages are normal ranges, not exact deadlines. Tooth eruption varies from child to child in both timing and order, according to clinical guidance on children’s dental development.

Age range	Likely next adult teeth	Does a baby tooth usually fall out first?
6–7 years	First permanent molars, lower central incisors	First molars: no. Lower centrals: yes.
7–9 years	Upper and lower adult front teeth	Yes
9–12 years	Canines and premolars	Yes, usually baby molars
12–14 years	Second molars	No
17–21 years	Wisdom teeth, if any	No

This table is a quick summary, not a checklist.

Ages 6–7: First Permanent Teeth

This is often when adult teeth first show up. Two things commonly happen:

• The first permanent molars, sometimes called six-year molars, come in at the very back of the mouth.
• The lower central incisors, the bottom front adult teeth, may push through.

The first permanent molars are easy to miss because they do not replace a baby tooth. They slip in behind the baby molars without anything falling out first. That is why it is worth looking at the back of your child’s mouth before a front tooth is even loose. The first permanent molar often appears around age 6, but the normal range is roughly ages 4 to 8. Sometimes the first molars appear before the lower front teeth; that is still normal.

After the first molars, the next likely teeth are usually the upper and lower front adult teeth, depending on what has already started. Children do not always follow a strict order.

Ages 7–9: Front Teeth and Gaps

Between ages 7 and 9, the baby front teeth on top and bottom loosen and fall out. Adult front teeth come in behind them. Upper front teeth often appear around age 7 to 7.5, although some children start later or earlier, according to guidance on key anomalies in the developing teeth. Typical windows include lower side front teeth around 7–8 and upper side front teeth around 8–9.

During this phase, gaps between the front teeth are common. The jaw is still growing and making room. Slight tilting, uneven edges, and a temporary “too big” look are normal while the adult front teeth settle into place. The chart can show which front tooth is likely next, but the exact sequence can vary.

Ages 9–12: Canines and Premolars

This is a wider, more variable stage. The baby molars begin to fall out, and permanent canines and premolars come in. Canines are the pointed “eye teeth” near the corners of the smile. Premolars, also called bicuspids, replace the baby molars.

There are often two possible “next” teeth here. For example, a child may get the lower canine before the first premolar, or the other way around. That is expected. Typical windows are broad: upper canines around 11–12, lower canines around 9–10, and premolars around 10–12. The upper canines vary especially widely. Guidance notes many girls get them around age 10.8 and many boys around 11.6, with several years of normal variation.

Crowding can become more visible now because these teeth need more room. This is a common time for an orthodontic checkup, not necessarily treatment. A dentist or orthodontist can see whether the pattern is within the normal range.

Ages 12–21: Second Molars and Wisdom Teeth

Around age 12 or so, the second molars come in. They are often called twelve-year molars. They erupt behind the first permanent molars, usually without any baby tooth falling out, because no baby tooth was in that spot. Lower second molars often appear before upper second molars, but the sequence can vary.

Then come wisdom teeth, also called third molars. They may:

• Erupt normally if there is enough room.
• Stay impacted, meaning trapped under gum or bone.
• Never form at all.

Wisdom teeth are the most variable part of the chart. Dental X-rays are the best way to see what is actually happening at the back of the mouth. These images can show whether a wisdom tooth is present, angled, or stuck. Regular X-ray monitoring is useful as the back teeth and canines are developing.

What the Chart Can’t Predict

A permanent teeth chart describes the average child. It cannot know:

• Inherited factors that can make teeth arrive earlier or later.
• Jaw size and how much room is available.
• Whether a tooth is missing and never formed.
• Whether there is an extra tooth in the way.
• Whether a baby tooth was lost early, which can shift the timing of the adult tooth.

For example, early loss of a baby molar can speed up or delay the permanent tooth underneath, depending on the child’s age and which tooth was lost, according to a review on premature baby molar loss. Some children are born missing certain adult teeth, so the chart may predict a tooth that never appears. An extra tooth can also sit in the path of a normal adult tooth.

Because of this, it is more useful to watch the pattern and side-to-side balance than to worry about exact dates. A child being earlier or later than a sibling or friend is usually not a problem.

When to Call the Dentist

Most timing differences are normal, but a dentist can confirm. Call if you notice:

• A baby tooth was lost more than six months ago and no adult tooth has appeared in that spot.
• A permanent tooth is clearly coming in behind a baby tooth that will not loosen.
• Pain or swelling around a teething area or in the gums.
• One side of the mouth is erupting very differently from the other.
• You cannot see any sign of an upper front tooth when you would expect one.

A delay of six months after a baby tooth falls out is a common trigger for closer checking, according to clinical guidance on missing teeth and eruption dates. It is also worth comparing to the matching tooth on the other side. If that matching tooth came in more than six months earlier, it is reasonable to ask your dentist. Most of these situations turn out to be normal, but routine dental visits and X-rays help sort that out without guesswork.

How to Track Without Stressing Your Child

A chart is most useful when it is low-key. Good ways to track include:

• Print or save a permanent teeth chart.
• Mark the date when a baby tooth falls out or an adult tooth appears.
• Take monthly photos of your child’s smile with their mouth open.
• Bring the chart to dental checkups and ask the dentist to review it.
• Celebrate a new tooth as a milestone, not a test.

Avoid comparing your child too closely with a sibling or friend. Timing varies so much that those comparisons usually create worry without adding useful information. The chart is simply a way to notice patterns, ask better questions at the dentist, and know when a professional check is worthwhile.