As your child grows, one of the many milestones they will experience is losing their baby teeth – and of course, a visit from the Tooth Fairy!
Normally, a child will lose their baby teeth and then the permanent ones will appear not long after that. Sometimes, things don’t happen in exactly that order and occasionally a permanent tooth comes in behind the baby tooth. This is commonly referred to as “shark teeth,” modeled after a real shark’s teeth because they actually have rows of teeth. This typically occurs in the lower front teeth around the age of 5-7, but this can also occur in other areas and outside of the typical age of occurrence.
WHAT MAKES BABY TEETH FALL OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE?
As permanent teeth begin to form under the baby teeth, they dissolve the roots of the baby teeth (which is why they look so small when they finally do come out). Sometimes the positioning of the permanent tooth allows it to come in behind the baby tooth. When that happens, the roots of the baby teeth don’t completely dissolve (or dissolve quickly enough) and they end up staying in place.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY CHILD HAS SHARK TEETH?
Give us a call and fill us in on what is happening. Dr. Hull will most likely want to see your child so he can determine if the baby teeth are loose enough to come out on their own, or if we need to help them out.
Questions or concerns? Give us a call at (781) 942-2020, e-mail us at info@drkhull.com, or Contact us right through the website.
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