By the time the embryo is eight weeks old, there are ten buds on the upper and lower arches that will eventually become the primary dentition. These teeth will continue to form until they erupt in the mouth.
The primary dentition is comprised of 20 teeth. Often these teeth are referred to as deciduous teeth. These teeth will be exfoliated (lost) as the permanent teeth erupt. In each arch of the mouth, there are two central incisors, two lateral incisors, two canines, and four molars.
