A 45-year-old member asked:
How to tell whether a tooth is a baby tooth or permanent tooth?
3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Theodore Davantzisanswered
Dentistry 41 years experience
Not without an exam: You will need to see a local dentist to tell you if a tooth is a baby tooth or a secondary tooth. This cannot be answered over the internet without visualization.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Robert Brodskyanswered
Geriatrics 59 years experience
Yes: Most of the time it can be decided just by looking at it. Sometimes, however, we need to get an xray.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Arnold Malermananswered
Orthodontics 54 years experience
Dental anatomy: You can tell by the size, shape, color, position, your child's age when tooth erupted, and appearance on x-ray. Ask hour dentist, he or she will know.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 46-year-old member asked:
Can you tell whether a tooth is a baby tooth or permanent tooth just by looking at it?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

Dr. Craig Fiskanswered
Dentistry 13 years experience
Yes: While it may take some practice and familiarity with dental anatomy, it is usually easy to tell a baby tooth from a permanent tooth. The biggest difference is the tooth's size. With few exceptions. Baby teeth typically look like smaller (1/2 size) versions of their permanent counterparts.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 4, 2013
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