Why haven’t my kid’s front teeth come through?
August 20, 2020 2:21 pmKids grow up so quickly, and there’s no bigger milestone than when they start to lose their baby teeth! However, this exciting stage can sometimes become a worry if the adult set don’t an appearance, particularly the front teeth. Here’s some information about what might be happening.
What’s normal?
Children start losing their baby teeth around six years of age, usually starting with the front teeth, called the incisors. Baby teeth get ‘pushed out’ by the adult versions when they are ready to come through. However, each child is different, so it’s important not to worry too much if it does take a bit longer.
When should I be worried?
If your kid’s adult front teeth haven’t emerged upto six months later, then there may be another cause. Here are the most common explanations – though, you should always contact your trusted pediatric dentist at Drs. Nicolas and Asp, to give a proper diagnosis.
Impacted teeth
Sometimes teeth remain stuck in the jawbone when there isn’t enough space for them to erupt normally. These teeth are known as ‘impacted’. This can have a number of causes
Not enough space
The most common reason is that there isn’t enough room. For a start, adult teeth are bigger than baby teeth – then, there are 32 adult teeth, but only 20 baby versions! Baby teeth should actually have small gaps between them, for this very reason. Your pediatric dentist should check, as orthodontic treatment – usually braces – may help create enough space. There might also be insufficient room because your child’s jaws are narrower than
usual, in which case surgery might also be needed.
Too many teeth
Your child might have a condition called hyperdontia. This is simply having too many teeth, known as ‘supernumerary’ teeth. Genetic conditions like Down Syndrome or cleft lip and palate can cause this. Parents can easily miss hyperdontia in the early years of baby teeth – but, if there isn’t enough room for the adult versions, they simply won’t emerge, and will develop in the jaw instead. Your pediatric dentist will need to confirm. As is often the case, the sooner a problem is spotted – the less invasive work is needed, and the sooner the problem can be fixed.
Growing the wrong way
Sometimes the adult tooth is growing in the wrong direction. Don’t be alarmed – as this is more common than you might expect. Adult teeth are guided into position by the baby teeth before them. So, if that process is disrupted, such as losing baby teeth early, then the adult teeth can veer off course! Again, orthodontic treatment can help, or your dentist might need to remove a baby tooth, to help guide the adult tooth into the right spot.
Missing Teeth
In very rare cases – there isn’t an adult tooth at all. Called hypodontia or congenitally missing teeth, this can run in families, or it can be due to a genetic condition. Often this means the baby tooth doesn’t fall out at all, because there is no adult tooth to replace it. Or, your child might not develop the baby tooth version either. In these cases, Drs. Nicolas and Asp can help advise on a range of treatments, including bridges or dental implants.
Knocked Out
If your child gets a tooth knocked out – then it’s a dental emergency. Whether it’s a baby tooth or the adult version, you should get an emergency dentist’s help as soon as possible, in order to try and save the tooth. This is vital in helping your child have the best possible smile.
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