MCQ Detailed View

Human teeth play an essential role in chewing, speaking, and maintaining facial structure. The dental development of a child follows a specific timeline, and by the age of three, most children have their complete set of primary teeth, also known as milk teeth or deciduous teeth.

On average, a child develops 20 primary teeth — 10 in the upper jaw and 10 in the lower jaw. These teeth usually begin to appear (erupt) around 6 months of age, starting with the lower central incisors. By the age of 2 to 3 years, the full set of milk teeth is generally present.

The 20 teeth include:

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  8 incisors (4 upper, 4 lower)

  
  


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  4 canines (2 upper, 2 lower)

  
  


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  8 molars (4 upper, 4 lower)

  
  

At this stage, children do not yet have premolars or wisdom teeth, which appear later with permanent dentition.

These primary teeth are extremely important because they help the child chew food properly, aid in speech development, and maintain proper spacing for the permanent teeth that will replace them between the ages of 6 to 12 years. If baby teeth are lost too early due to decay or injury, it may lead to misalignment of the permanent teeth.

Dentists recommend proper oral hygiene for children as soon as teeth appear. Parents should help with brushing using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to prevent early childhood caries (tooth decay).

In conclusion, the correct answer is 20 teeth. By age three, most children have a complete set of primary teeth, which are essential for healthy growth and development until they are gradually replaced by 32 permanent teeth in adulthood.