Almost all children go through a difficult developmental stage at some point. The stage of transition from having a mouth full of baby teeth to having a fully grown smile is a perfect example. The formation of “shark teeth” is one issue that occurs frequently during this stage. It is usually seen in kids around the age of 5 to 7 years of age. This happens when the permanent teeth erupt behind the baby teeth, which do not fall out on time. This causes a double row of teeth, which frequently worries parents and children alike.
Why are there children with shark teeth?
The permanent teeth typically erupt just below the baby teeth. The baby tooth eventually becomes loose as the permanent teeth erupt, starting the process of dissolving the baby tooth root. Slowly the loose roots cause the baby tooth to fall out making space for the permanent tooth to erupt.
Occasionally, though, the baby teeth’s roots do not disintegrate and instead stay solid. Ectopic eruption is the process by which the permanent tooth emerges through the gums behind the baby tooth because it still needs a place to erupt. Although there may be other causes as well, we commonly see ectopic eruptions in kids who do not have adequate space for the larger adult teeth. While seeing shark teeth in your child can be unsettling, it is not something to be worried about as correct treatment can solve the issue once and for all. In a few cases, these teeth cause discomfort to the child. There is no need to wait if there is any kind of pain or discomfort. An immediate dentist visit can easily chalk out the course of action to fix the situation.
How can shark teeth be handled?
The baby tooth determines how you should treat shark teeth. Have your child try to jiggle it numerous times a day to loosen it even more if it is only a little bit loose. The permanent tooth will eventually erupt from its socket in many of these situations when the baby tooth finally falls out on its own. Many cases show that the baby teeth have almost no movement even when the permanent teeth are almost the same height as the baby teeth.
Make an appointment to get the baby tooth examined by a pediatric dentist if it feels quite solid and is not loose. The best recommendation, which may involve tooth extraction for kids (ถอนฟันน้ำนม, term in Thai) or just giving it time to fall free on its own, will be made after examining your child’s teeth.
What occurs if no action is taken?
Gingival recession is a condition where the gums connect very low to the permanent tooth if the baby tooth is not gone promptly. When the youngster gets older, this can mean a gum transplant is required.
If an extraction is the best course of action, you may be confident that your child will have a reasonably straightforward session as infant teeth can be extracted much more easily than an adult permanent tooth because their roots are smaller and shorter.
