Understanding Your Teeth: Baby vs. Adult Tooth Count

The number of teeth a person has varies depending on their age.

Primary (Baby) Teeth

- Children typically have 20 primary (baby) teeth. These teeth begin to erupt at around 6 months of age and are usually all in place by age 3.

Permanent Teeth

- Adults typically have 32 permanent teeth. These teeth begin to erupt around age 6 and continue to come in until the early 20s. Wisdom teeth, which are the last four permanent teeth to erupt, may not come in at all or may be impacted (stuck in the jawbone).

Some people may have extra teeth, called supernumerary teeth, while others may be missing one or more teeth. These variations are not uncommon and can be managed by a dentist or orthodontist.