Visit Our Pediatric Dental Office to See if Your Child’s Teeth are Developing Correctly

Bring your child to our pediatric dental office if you are concerned that their teeth are not developing as they should. We have found that many parents have this concern. It is normal to wonder if a child is getting their teeth soon enough, losing them as they are supposed to and then getting their permanent adult teeth on schedule.

There is a lot happening when it comes to the development of a child's permanent set of adult teeth so it is important to visit the dentist to make sure that everything is working and developing as it should. Fortunately, with a quick examination and x-rays, we can provide any of the answers that you are looking for.

A child is born with all of their teeth

An interesting fact that most parents do not realize is that a child is actually born with all of their teeth in place. You just can't see them because they are hidden underneath the gum. This means that the body does not have to produce teeth or require anything additional for them to form. It is simply a matter of time. When the body is ready, the teeth begin to descend. It is that simple.

There can still be challenges along the way

Even though a baby is born with all of their teeth, that does not mean that they will grow in like they should. This happens naturally with most people but sometimes there is a challenge. In this case, it is a good idea to visit a pediatric dental office for help, to help a child through the teething process and assist with their teeth coming in correctly.

Preventative care is part of this process.

Once a child has their baby teeth, it is important for them to continue to visit our office for dental care so that we can prevent common problems like tooth decay or infections. This is important for their oral health and comfort but also for preventing unnecessary and early tooth loss.

If a child has a severe infection, for example, it may be necessary to remove one or several of their teeth. This can create a future problem with overcrowding. Essentially, baby teeth are supposed to hold the space for permanent adult teeth. This is why it is important for them to fall out when the body is ready and the new tooth is ready to descend. If they fall out too early there could be a prolonged period of time between when the teeth fall out and the new ones come in. During that time, the surrounding teeth may move and encroach upon that open space. Then, when the adult teeth are ready to descend there may be no room for them. This can lead to overcrowding and misaligned teeth. Preventative care can reduce the likelihood of this becoming an issue.

Determining if orthodontics are necessary

When evaluating a child's teeth to see if they are coming in correctly, we may observe that a child needs orthodontics. Wearing braces, for example, can help to straighten misaligned teeth and move them into the correct position. Typically, a child will not be ready to wear braces until they are 10 to 12 years of age. However, an early orthodontic evaluation may be completed as young as seven. During that time, an orthodontist may recommend some early intervention steps that can reduce the likelihood of a child needing to wear braces or needing to wear them very long.

Schedule an appointment

We would be happy to examine your child's teeth and make a determination if they are growing in properly. We would also be happy to answer any questions that you may have. To learn more, call and schedule an appointment with our pediatric dental office today.

---