When does tooth E come in and fall out?
The upper baby central incisors usually come in at 8–12 months and fall out at 6–7 years (ADA). The AAPD chart gives 6–10 months to come in and 7–8 years to fall out.
In the ADA chart, they usually come in after the lower baby central incisors (6–10 months) and before the upper baby lateral incisors (9–13 months), and they are among the first to fall out, along with the lower baby central incisors.
Tooth E is replaced by tooth 8, the upper right central incisor, which usually comes in at 7–8 years (ADA). Under the gum, tooth E starts to harden in the 4th month of pregnancy and is fully formed by about 18–24 months (AAPD).
Bottle decay on tooth E
Early childhood decay. Tooth decay in babies and toddlers (early childhood caries, or "baby bottle tooth decay") most often shows up on the upper front teeth first.
The ADA links it with frequent, long contact with drinks that contain sugar, such as when a baby is put to bed with a bottle. In a study of 2,515 Australian 4- and 5-year-olds, decay on the front teeth was tied to sipping from a bottle during the day and falling asleep with one at night.
What helps. The ADA suggests finishing bedtime and nap-time bottles before going to bed, wiping the gums after feedings, never dipping a pacifier in sugar or honey, and starting a cup by the first birthday.
Cavities. The AAPD advises repairing decayed baby teeth when possible, rebuilding each tooth to its original shape so it keeps its place until the adult tooth is ready.
The same tooth on the left side, tooth F, has its own section on falls and injuries to baby front teeth.
Where is tooth E?
Tooth E is one of the two top front teeth right in the middle of your child's mouth: the one on their right side.
"Left" and "right" always mean the child's own sides, so when you face your child, tooth E is on your left.
Right next to it, across the middle, is tooth F, the other upper baby central incisor. Behind it is tooth D, the upper right baby lateral incisor.
Its mirror twin on the left side is tooth F. The tooth in the same spot in the lower jaw is tooth P, the lower right baby central incisor.
Dental charts show the patient's right side on the left, so tooth E sits just left of the center line of the top row. Baby teeth use letters in the same path as adult numbers: upper right teeth run from A (the back molar) to E (the front tooth).
What does the upper baby central incisor do?
Baby incisors are the front teeth young children use to bite and cut soft food. Baby teeth matter even though they fall out: children need them to chew, speak and smile, and they help the adult teeth come in correctly.
How many roots does tooth E have?
One root, which dissolves as the adult tooth grows underneath.
When to call a dentist about tooth E
If a baby tooth is knocked loose or out in a fall, or your child has swelling, fever or pain, call your dentist. Never put a knocked-out baby tooth back in (Knocked-Out Tooth Rescue explains why). Swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow is an emergency: call 911.
Tooth E in FDI and Palmer notation
| System | Tooth E is written | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Universal (ADA, used in the US) | E | Baby teeth are lettered A–T around the mouth, starting at the upper right back molar. |
| FDI / ISO 3950 (international) | 51 | First digit 5 = upper right quarter (baby teeth use 5–8); second digit 1 = first baby tooth from the middle. Said "five-one". |
| Palmer | A┘ (often typed URA) | The ┘ bracket marks the upper right quarter; A = first baby tooth from the middle. |
Palmer letters mean something else. In Palmer notation the letters A–E count out from the middle in each quarter, so a Palmer "E" is always a baby second molar, not this tooth. In Palmer, tooth E is A┘ (URA).
FDI baby teeth start with 5 to 8. The first digit 5 marks the upper right baby quarter, so FDI 51 can't be mixed up with an adult tooth.
Letters and numbers don't line up. E is letter 5 of the alphabet, but baby tooth E is replaced by adult tooth 8, not tooth 5.
All baby teeth in the upper right quarter
From the front of the mouth to the back:
| Universal | FDI | Palmer | Tooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 51 | A┘ (URA) | Baby central incisor (this tooth) |
| D | 52 | B┘ (URB) | Baby lateral incisor |
| C | 53 | C┘ (URC) | Baby canine |
| B | 54 | D┘ (URD) | Baby first molar |
| A | 55 | E┘ (URE) | Baby second molar |
The Tooth Number Chart & Converter converts any tooth between the three systems.
Tools for tooth E
- Teething Calculator: which baby teeth are due at your baby's age.
- Baby Teeth Tracker: log each tooth in and out.
- Kids Fluoride Calculator: how much toothpaste to use; the ADA says a rice-grain smear until age 3, then a pea-size amount.
- Tooth Fairy Calculator: what families give for a lost tooth.
- Dental Treatment Plan Decoder: plain English for treatment-plan shorthand like "#30 MOD comp".
Frequently asked questions
What tooth is letter E?
When does tooth E come in?
When does tooth E fall out?
Why does decay show up on tooth E first?
Sources
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Permanent Tooth Development (eruption chart). 2012. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Primary Tooth Development (eruption chart). 2012. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Dental Growth and Development (chronology after Logan & Kronfeld 1933, adapted 2003). Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Management of the Developing Dentition and Occlusion in Pediatric Dentistry (Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry). latest revision 2024. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- World Health Organization. Oral health surveys: basic methods, 5th edition (tooth notation after ISO 3950). 2013. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Nelson SJ. Elsevier. Wheeler's Dental Anatomy, Physiology and Occlusion, 11th edition. 2019.
- American Dental Association. ADA Dental Claim Form (tooth designation systems). Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Dentalcare.com (continuing education course CE500). An Overview of Dental Anatomy: Types of Teeth and their Functions. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Tooth Decay with Baby Bottles. Accessed October 26, 2026.
- Hallett KB, O'Rourke PK. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 34(1):25–35. Pattern and severity of early childhood caries. 2006. Accessed October 26, 2026.
Last reviewed by the Dental Health Time editorial team, against the sources above. How we review.