Baby Teeth in Adults?

As a child, when you notice you baby tooth is loose for the first time there is anticipation and maybe a little apprehension as well.  What happens if my tooth falls out?  How will I eat?  Will it hurt? Will another tooth grow in that space?  Baby teeth erupting and being replaced by adult teeth is part of growing up.

Some children wait in anticipation for another tooth to become loose, other not so much.  Some children may find that a baby tooth or two remain in their mouths, even after all the other ones fall out.

Some people never lose one or more of their baby teeth

Even before you are born, your baby teeth begin developing, though the full set won’t grow in entirely until you’re about three years old.  Also known as primary teeth, your baby teeth don’t stick around for long – they start to get loose and fall out as early as the age of five or six.

By the time most people hit 12-14 years old, they’ve lost all of their baby teeth and their adult (secondary) teeth have replaced them.  But that’s not the case for everyone and some adults retain their baby teeth for a variety of different reasons.

What’s behind retained baby teeth?

The most common cause for retained baby teeth in an adult is when a secondary tooth doesn’t erupt and push out the original one.  Genetics also play a role in determining whether you keep baby teeth as an adult, due to one of the conditions listed below:

• Hypodontia: There’s no room for permanent teeth due to extra primary teeth.
• Hypodontia: Missing one to five permanent teeth.
• Oligodontia: Missing six or more permanent teeth.
• Anodontia: Missing most or all of your permanent teeth.

Additionally, there’s other causes for adult baby teeth, such as ankylosis.  This disorder causes baby teeth to fuse to the jawbone, which prevents them from becoming loose and falling out. Also, serious mouth infections or trauma experienced as a child may cause primary teeth to stay in place.

Research indicates that retained baby teeth still present at the age of 20, can stay in the mouth unit the person is 40 years old.  However, at some point, these teeth begin to either get loose or decay.  Then, these primary teeth either need to be removed or they come out on their own, leaving gaps and spaces in the mouth.  Unfortunately, there usually isn’t an adult tooth to replace the longstanding baby tooth.

Dental implants are the best solution

Many people with retained baby teeth are self-conscious about their smiles.  They worry these teeth look off-putting or unsightly to others.  Fortunately, dental implants make it simple to create an adult smile.  Working with an experienced periodontist, you’ll undergo the process of evaluating your tooth and you will be included in determining what is the best option for your situation.

Often times extraction of the primary tooth is necessary (because it won’t fall out on its own) and the jawbone may need augmented to prepare it for a future dental implant.  A periodontist will also handle any bone grafting required to ensure your dental implant fuses to the jawbone correctly.

When you’ve decided to pursue options for your retained baby tooth, make an appointment with Levenson Periodontal Associates.  We’re here to help you address any concerns about the function or aesthetics of your teeth.