My 7-year-old daughter has two permanent teeth emerging behind primary teeth. I tried to wiggle the baby teeth to see if they will move, but they are solid. Should I wait a few more weeks, or do I need a dentist to remove the baby teeth? – Thank you. India
India,
Thank you for submitting your question.
If you see permanent teeth erupting, but the primary teeth are not moving, you should ask a dentist to remove the primary teeth. Otherwise, multiple problems can result.
When Primary Teeth Do Not Fall Out
If your child’s primary teeth do not fall out, the results can be two rows of teeth, impacted teeth, or incorrectly positioned teeth.
Two rows of teeth
When primary teeth will not fall out and make room for permanent teeth, your child might have a second row of teeth. The result is overcrowding, the need for extractions, and possibly orthodontic treatment.
Impacted teeth
If baby teeth do not make room for primary teeth, your child’s teeth might become impacted—trapped beneath the gums. Permanent teeth can grow horizontally or slanted and fail to erupt. Eventually, a dentist must extract the primary teeth, and your child might need oral surgery, orthodontic treatment, or both to help the primary tooth emerge. Impacted teeth can cause pain and crowding and lead to orthodontic treatment.
Incorrectly positioned teeth
If permanent teeth manage to erupt with primary teeth intact, the permanent teeth might emerge behind the primary ones or in another position. Baby teeth will still require extraction, and your child will need braces to reposition permanent teeth.
Preventing Problems with Primary Tooth Eruption
Dental visits at an early age and knowing when to watch for tooth eruption can prevent or minimize problems with delayed permanent tooth eruption.
Early dental visits
When your child’s first tooth erupts, bring them to your family dentist for an exam. Yearly dental exams are preventive care to detect any issues with your child’s oral health.
Watch for tooth eruption
Parents can watch for proper tooth eruption using the American Dental Associations, tooth eruption charts. If your child’s teeth are erupting off schedule, visit a dentist for an examination. Early intervention can minimize your child’s discomfort and some of the expense of correcting the issue.
David Finley, DDS of Monroe, LA, sponsors this post.