WE ACCEPT THE CANADIAN DENTAL CARE PLAN (CDCP)
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I understand why you are concerned. It happened to my son and I have seen it in hundreds of children. It is normal. Dentists call this Shark Teeth as it looks like the rows of teeth sharks have. Usually, the baby tooth falls out and then the new adult tooth appears within days, weeks or a few months. When the baby tooth is still present and the adult tooth grows beside it, it is usually because there is a lack of room for the adult tooth to erupt right underneath the baby tooth and push it out. Another reason is that the adult tooth developed in the wrong position and then erupted beside the baby tooth instead of pushing it out. Lack of space, previous trauma or infection, and genetics may cause the adult tooth to erupt in the wrong position.
Don’t worry, in most cases the baby tooth is loose and will fall out by itself within days or a few weeks. If the baby tooth is not wiggly or it hasn’t fallen out within a month of the shark teeth appearing, visit the dentist to have the baby tooth removed.
Don’t wait too long to visit the dentist in Bolton Ontario if the baby tooth doesn’t fall out as the adult tooth is in the wrong position and the longer it erupts in the wrong position, the harder it will be to naturally go in the right position. Don’t use tools at home to take out the baby tooth. When removing the baby tooth at home, use clean hands to remove the baby tooth and have your child bite on a face cloth or paper towel to help stop the bleeding. Don’t try to remove the baby tooth yourself if the tooth is not loose. Don’t forcefully take out the baby tooth yourself if your child refuses. Instead, bring your child to the dentist.
If your child does not want to wiggle the baby tooth out with their fingers or allow you to do it, encourage them to use their tongue to push it. Give them crunchy foods to eat like apples or carrots which will help loosen it. Encourage them with a reward and explain that removing the baby tooth will allow the adult tooth to grow in the proper spot.
If the baby tooth doesn’t fall out or if your child does not let you or the dentist take it out, it will fall out eventually as the roots will get shorter. However, this means the adult tooth will be in the wrong position. The child can get orthodontic treatment to correct this.
When the baby tooth is taken out or if it falls out, it allows the adult tooth to move to the right position. The lips, cheeks and tongue are powerful muscles and they can guide the adult tooth into the right position if there is space. However, this is not guaranteed. Your child may still need orthodontics to correct the position even if the baby tooth is lost. Taking the baby tooth out increases the chances of the adult tooth being guided into the right position.
Check if the baby tooth is wiggly. If you don’t think the baby tooth will fall out soon, make an appointment at Watermelon Dental. We are located in Caledon in downtown Bolton and we have a friendly and welcoming environment for kids. Visit watermelondental.ca to book your appointment online or call us at 647-946-6070.
