Guiding Parents and Children Through Mixed Dentition 

Around the age of six, most children begin a normal and interesting life process. They may notice that some of their teeth (usually the central and lateral incisors) begin to feel loose. Dentists refer to this growth period as the mixed dentition stage, because over the next six or seven years, their pediatric patients dentition will consist of a mix of baby (deciduous) teeth and permanent teeth -- as well as gaps where deciduous teeth have fallen out and where permanent teeth haven’t yet completed eruption.

This experience can be both exciting and scary for your young patients. There is usually the thrilling prospect of a financial reward from the Tooth Fairy for lost teeth, but also fear and dread of the discomfort involved.

When your young patients are close to reaching the mixed dentition stage, it is important to encourage them to continue brushing well -- especially in the back as their molars emerge. Remind parents that baby teeth will fall out on their own with little pain or effort. It is not necessary to push or pull teeth out before they are ready. You may also need to let parents know that most dental corrections should not be started until all of the permanent teeth have grown in.