A mother brings her 14-month-old infant concerned that no teeth have erupted yet. The infant is otherwise developing normally. By what age should the first deciduous tooth normally erupt?
- A By 4 months
- B By 12 months
- C By 10 months
- D By 6 months ✓
Correct answer: D. By 6 months
Explanation
The first deciduous tooth, typically the lower central incisor, erupts by 6 to 10 months of age. Delayed dentition is defined as no teeth by 13 months of age. The sequence of eruption is more important than the exact timing. By 3 years, all 20 deciduous teeth should be present. Delayed dentition may indicate hypothyroidism, rickets, or cleidocranial dysostosis, but isolated delay with normal development is usually benign.
Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.