If My Child’s 12-Year Molars Come in After They are 12, Is This Bad?

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If My Child’s 12-Year Molars Come in After They are 12, Is This Bad?

Molars are the toughest teeth in the mouth. They’re built for function so that it is possible to properly chew and grind up food to help with digestion. Of the molars, there are the first molars (6-year molars), second molars (12-year molars) and third molars (wisdom teeth). Similar to how the body grows and develops, so do teeth. This explains why we have baby teeth (primary teeth), which erupt first in the mouth, and when we lose our baby teeth, the adult teeth (permanent teeth) begin to erupt and fully come in.

Additionally, the molars get their common names from the general age of when the teeth tend to erupt in the mouth. This further explains is why the first molars are often referred to as the “6-year molars” and the second molars are commonly referred to as the “12-year molars.” More importantly, if your child is at the age of 12 or older and their “12-year molars” have not fully erupted this is not necessarily a bad thing. There is nothing that says if the “12-year molars” haven’t erupted at age 12 something is wrong. More importantly, there is not a specific age to pinpoint exactly when all “12-year molars” will erupt since genetics plays a large factor in tooth eruption.

If you are concerned about your child’s “12-year molars” or tooth development it would be in your best interest to speak with your dentist or orthodontist. They will be able to provide you with proper information and steps if treatment may be needed. Most likely, they will take X-Rays of your child’s mouth to determine the positioning of the molars (along with other teeth) to determine if they’ll be able to erupt naturally or if additional dental treatment is needed to allow the “12-year molars” to erupt.

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At Sims Orthodontics, Dr. Sims is wonderful and very knowledgeable orthodontist with may years of experience. He has a true passion for his patients and always puts them first. If you have concerns about your child’s teeth or teeth of your own, please do not hesitate to contact our office today to set up an initial appointment with us!