What If My Child’s Baby Teeth Are Not Falling Out?

Posted by AllSmiles

My daughter Sophia is six years old and will be seven next January. She still has her baby teeth. The teeth are not loose, so I wonder whether they will fall out or if a dentist needs to intervene. Should I be concerned that her baby teeth are not falling out? Thank you. Zoraida from VT

Zoraida – Thank you for your question. Several factors affect when and which primary teeth fall out and why permanent teeth may not develop.

What If Your Child’s Primary Teeth Are Not Falling Out?

If your child’s primary teeth are not falling out, the reason may depend on your child’s age and which teeth are not falling out. Look at the schedule below to determine whether your child should be losing primary teeth. If the time has passed for your child to lose primary teeth, schedule an appointment with a pediatric or family dentist for an exam and x-rays.

What Are Reasons that Primary Teeth Do Not Fall Out?

Reasons that a child’s primary teeth do not fall out include:

• Permanent teeth erupting in the wrong position – Permanent teeth should develop beneath primary teeth. Sometimes, they grow in front of or behind primary teeth, fail to push primary teeth roots to help the teeth loosen, and erupt in front of or behind baby teeth instead.
• Severe crowding – Crowded primary teeth can cause a lack of space and prevent proper development and eruption of permanent teeth.
• Undeveloped permanent teeth – Sometimes, permanent teeth do not develop and emerge. Genetics, disease, inadequate nutrition, and other factors can prevent permanent teeth from growing.

What Is the Treatment for Adult Teeth that Do Not Emerge?

When a child’s permanent teeth do not emerge or develop, treatment options depend on the cause of the concerns. A dentist must examine your child’s teeth and take x-rays to determine whether permanent teeth exist and their location.

Treatment options may include:

• Exposing impacted teeth
• Removing primary teeth to make room for permanent ones that are developing in front of or behind them
• Orthodontics
• Artificial tooth replacement, such as dental implants, for permanent teeth that will never develop

Rocky Hill, Connecticut cosmetic dentist Dr. Thaddeus Michalski, sponsors this post.