Most parents learn children’s dentistry one crisis at a time. A tooth hurts, so you call. A tooth will not fall out, so you call again. That approach works, but it is expensive and stressful. This timeline lays out what children’s dentistry Wilmington DE families should expect at each stage, so you can stay ahead of problems instead of chasing them.
The stages below reflect how children actually develop. Your child may run a few months ahead or behind, and that is normal.
Ages 0 to 1: The First Tooth and the First Visit
The first tooth usually arrives between six and ten months, most often a lower front tooth. Once it is there, bacteria have something to stick to, and cavity risk begins.
Wipe the gums before teeth arrive. Once a tooth is in, brush it twice daily with a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice. Stop the bedtime bottle of milk or juice. Sugar sitting against enamel overnight is the single most common cause of early childhood decay we see in Wilmington and Newark.
Schedule the first appointment by the first birthday. This is where children’s dentistry Wilmington DE care formally begins. Parents in Bear, Hockessin and Pike Creek often ask if a one year old visit is really necessary. It is, and it is short. Our guide to preparing a kid for the dentist explains how to make it easy.
Ages 1 to 3: Habits Set for Life
Ages one to three is where children’s dentistry Wilmington DE parents will see the quietest and most valuable work happen. Twenty baby teeth arrive by roughly age three. Fluoride varnish is applied at recall visits. The dentist watches for pacifier and thumb effects on the developing bite.
The habits you establish now hold for a decade. Brushing needs to be done by an adult, not supervised from across the room. Toddlers cannot brush effectively, and they will tell you otherwise with great confidence. Our post on healthy dental habits in toddlers covers the routine in detail, and the companion piece on habits parents should avoid covers what quietly undoes that work.
Ages 4 to 6: Sealants and the First Permanent Molars
Around age six, the first permanent molars come in behind the baby teeth. They arrive without any tooth falling out, so many parents never notice them. These molars have deep grooves and they are the most cavity prone teeth in the mouth.
Sealants go on these teeth as soon as they erupt. Applied correctly, they block food and bacteria from settling into grooves a toothbrush cannot reach. Combined with fluoride, sealants prevent the majority of childhood cavities. Read more about how fluoride strengthens enamel alongside sealant protection.
Front baby teeth start loosening around age six as well. Loose teeth are normal. Loose teeth with swelling, pus or persistent pain are not, and those are worth a call.
Ages 6 to 9: The Mixed Dentition Years
Your child now has baby teeth and permanent teeth at the same time, which is why smiles look crooked at this age even when nothing is wrong. Permanent front teeth erupt larger than the baby teeth they replace, and they often come in with a gap or a slight rotation that self corrects.
What warrants attention: a permanent tooth erupting behind a baby tooth that will not release, crowding severe enough that a permanent tooth has nowhere to go, crossbites, and a baby tooth lost far too early. Early loss can allow neighboring teeth to drift, which is why space maintainers exist.
This is also the age when children start playing contact sports. A custom mouthguard costs far less than repairing a fractured permanent front tooth. Preventive care visits are the right place to raise it.
Ages 9 to 12: Alignment Comes Into Focus
Canines and premolars replace the remaining baby teeth. By roughly age twelve, most children have their full set of permanent teeth apart from wisdom teeth.
Now the bite can be evaluated meaningfully. Crowding, spacing, overbite and crossbite are all clearer. Some children benefit from non-invasive oral appliances that guide growth rather than waiting for full braces later.
Hygiene usually slips at this age because supervision drops. Plaque along the gumline and white spot decay around the gums are the tells. A frank conversation with the child, not just the parent, tends to work better than another reminder from a parent.
Ages 13 to 18: Independence, Aligners and Aesthetics
Teens care about how their smile looks, and that motivation is useful. Invisalign aligners appeal to teens who reject traditional brackets, and compliance is generally better when the patient chose the treatment.
Diet becomes the main cavity driver. Energy drinks, sports drinks and constant sipping bathe teeth in acid for hours. Sugar frequency matters more than sugar quantity. Our Halloween candy care tips explain the frequency principle in a way teens actually accept.
Wisdom teeth are monitored on X-ray through the later teen years, and extraction planning happens before crowding or infection forces the issue. For teens who want to correct chips, stains or shape, cosmetic options are worth discussing once growth has settled.
Where Children’s Dentistry Wilmington DE Families Can Get Care
Children’s dentistry Wilmington DE parents rely on should cover this entire span under one roof, so records, X-rays and history follow the child rather than restarting every few years. Dentistry for Children has done exactly that on Foulk Road since 2003, serving families from Wilmington, Newark, Bear, Pike Creek, Hockessin and across the line in Glen Mills, Garnet Valley and West Chester, Pennsylvania.
See the full scope on the children’s dentistry page, or meet Dr. Rachel Maher first.
Book the Visit That Matches Your Child’s Stage
Wherever your child sits on this timeline, from a first tooth in Wilmington to a senior year checkup in Newark or Hockessin, the next appointment is the one that keeps the plan on track. Call (302) 475-7640 or request an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should children’s dentistry care actually begin?
Care begins at the first tooth or the first birthday, whichever comes first. Early visits are short, mostly educational, and they establish a baseline the dentist can compare against at every later appointment. They also make the child comfortable in the office before any treatment is ever needed.
Do baby teeth really matter if they fall out anyway?
Yes. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth, support speech and chewing, and protect the developing permanent tooth beneath them. An infected baby tooth can damage the permanent tooth forming underneath, and early loss can cause crowding that requires orthodontic correction later.
At what age should my child get sealants?
Sealants typically go on the first permanent molars around age six and the second permanent molars around age twelve. They can also be placed on premolars with deep grooves. The sooner after eruption they are placed, the better they perform.
When should we first talk about braces or aligners?
An orthodontic evaluation around age seven is standard, because that is when the mixed dentition reveals crowding and bite issues. Actual treatment often waits until ages eleven to fourteen, but early evaluation lets the dentist intervene when timing genuinely matters.
How often should my child see the dentist?
Twice a year for most children. Children with high cavity risk, appliances or special healthcare needs may need visits every three or four months. The interval should be set by risk, not habit, and reviewed as your child grows.