Raising your first child brings many new experiences, and for first-time parents, the teething process can be confusing and stressful. Naturally, you want to ensure that your child sustains as little discomfort as possible, so being prepared with a teething timeline can be helpful.

Here to provide some useful information for first-time parents is one of the leading children’s dentists, Brandi Prather DMD PSC. Based in Somerset, KY, her pediatric dentistry practice provides a comfortable, welcoming environment for young patients.

Below, Somerset’s favorite children’s dentist explains exactly what you can expect during each step of your child’s teething development:

• Infancy: Tooth development actually begins while your child is still in the womb, as early as six weeks into gestation. Your baby’s tooth buds will remain under their gums during infancy, until they are between four to six months old.

• Four to Twelve Months: From the ages of four to six months, your baby’s roots begin to grow, which pushes the tooth upwards. Your child may exhibit signs of discomfort, such as irritability, gum rubbing, and decreased appetite. Drooling, biting, and sucking are also signs of teething. By the time they reach the age of one, your baby may have as many as six teeth exposed.
• One to Three Years: Your little one can visit a children’s dentist for the first time as early as one year of age. An experienced pediatric dentist will help to make sure that you’re taking the best possible care of your baby’s first teeth. By the time they reach the age of three, their full set of 20 teeth should have erupted.

You can schedule your child’s first visit with the caring, gentle team at the office of Brandi Prather DMD PSC by calling (606) 679-5437. To see what happy parents are saying about their children’s experience with Dr. Prather, check out the practice’s Facebook page!