What can you do to tell the difference between baby and permanent teeth?

Size, color, shape: Baby teeth are whiter than perm teeth. There are 20 baby teeth, the 8 front ones (top and bottom) are lost usually between ages 6-8. Perm front teeth are much larger and have bumps on the biting edge initially. The lower baby eye teeth are lost next, around 9. The perm 6 year molars come in behind the baby teeth (no tooth falls out). Baby molars and upper eye teeth are lost 10-12 years old.

Several ways: Size and shape are the two main ways. Permanent incisors and cuspids are bigger than the baby teeth. When the baby molars are lost, the smaller bicuspids erupt which have two cusps or points to them. Permanent molars come in behind the baby molars and are much bigger. The baby teeth in most cases are whiter.

Many ways: Size and shape both visually and on x-ray, color, enamel density, position in the mouth. Your dentist will know for sure.