Children have beautiful smiles that bring joy to their families and make the world brighter. Parents experience joy when their children get their first tooth and when their milk teeth fall out and permanent teeth start to appear.
Abnormal tooth eruption in children can occur even when there are no major abnormalities that have occurred with the development of their teeth. Delayed, early, ectopic, and disordered tooth eruption are some of the types of abnormal tooth eruption, which is when a child’s tooth emerges before or after the usual age or in a wrong position in the mouth. You’re not alone if your child has had issues with abnormal tooth eruption. The issue is more common in children than people think.
Early recognition of abnormal tooth eruption in children combined with appropriate treatment helps to reduce the likelihood of the child experiencing tooth alignment issues. If you observe that your child’s tooth is erupting too early, not at all or in the wrong place, do consult a pediatric dentist at the earliest. Dr. Aishwarya provides expert dental care for children with abnormal tooth eruptions through her skills and specialization in pediatric dentistry
In this blog, we’ll explain about abnormal tooth eruption in children, including the possible causes and complications that may arise, and current dental treatments available to treat children with abnormal tooth eruptions.
What Is Abnormal Tooth Eruption?
Tooth eruption is a term that is used to describe a stage when a tooth is moving through the gum tissue and into a visible position in the mouth. Children usually have 20 primary teeth which are called milk teeth before they are replaced by 32 adult teeth.
Premature or late eruption is a condition where teeth erupt early, late or at the wrong angles and become trapped under the gum tissue or touch the neighboring teeth or erupt from unusual positions.
- The eruption of adult teeth occurs through the gum tissue after the baby teeth have already erupted.
- Teeth inside the mouth overlap with each other.
- Teeth are trapped under the gum tissue where they are supposed to erupt out of the socket.
- Teeth are erupting through the gum tissue at an abnormal angle and not in their normal path.
- Loss of baby teeth or milk teeth is delayed.
- Extra teeth or the absence of teeth leads to the blockage of normal tooth eruption.
If the condition is left untreated, it will lead to crooked teeth, gum problems and altered facial structure and chewing difficulties. Early assessment by a dentist is required for diagnosis of this condition before it becomes a complex issue.
Why Do Kids Get Abnormal Tooth Eruption?
Children develop abnormal tooth eruption because of multiple factors, which include:
1. Genetic Factors: Children who have parents with delayed tooth eruption and overcrowding, and impacted teeth during their childhood years, will likely experience these same dental issues.
2. Jaw Size vs Tooth Size Mismatch: The jaw size fails to support all teeth which results in teeth growing at awkward angles or becoming crowded.
3. Premature Loss of Milk Teeth: The early loss of baby teeth due to decay or trauma leaves behind space that is lost and allows permanent teeth to erupt misaligned.
4. Prolonged Retention of Baby Teeth: The delayed removal of baby teeth leads to permanent teeth emerging through or around their positions.
5. Nutritional Deficiencies: The development of teeth slows when children lack essential minerals, together as calcium and vitamin D.
6. Habits Like Thumb Sucking and Mouth Breathing: The practice of thumb sucking and mouth breathing creates gum pressure, which damages tooth development and jaw structure.
7. Medical Conditions & Infection: The timing of tooth eruption becomes disrupted when children develop cysts or gum infections or experience endocrine disorders or delayed bone growth.
By identifying the causes, dentists can select the right treatment methods for their pediatric patients.
Early Signs of Abnormal Tooth Eruption in Kids
Parents need to identify early warning indicators which include:
- Permanent teeth emerge through the space where baby teeth should be (shark teeth)
- Milk teeth fail to fall out during the typical age range of 12–13 years old.
- Teeth develop at abnormal angles while rotating or overlapping with each other.
- Spacing between the teeth become more prominent due to spacing or crowding.
- The teeth on one side of the mouth develop normally but the other side experiences delayed growth.
- Swollen gums with pain associated with the teeth become present when teeth become trapped.
- Difficulty with eating is present due to misalignment of the teeth.
- Tooth pain is present in the mouth of the child.
- Permanent teeth become visible but the baby tooth does not fall out.
Seek dental evaluation at the first appearance of any of these symptoms because it helps stop potential problems from developing.
Common Issues Caused by Abnormal Tooth Eruption
The failure to address irregular tooth emergence will result in multiple problems.
1. Teeth Misalignment and Crowding
The process of cleaning teeth becomes more challenging when teeth overlap, which might need orthodontic treatment in the future.
2. Gum Infection
The improper emergence of teeth creates spaces for food particles to become trapped which results in plaque accumulation and gum disease development.
3. Chewing and Speech Difficulty
The way teeth arrange themselves determines how people bite and speak.
4. Aesthetic Concerns
Children develop self-doubt because their uneven or protruding teeth create confidence issues.
5. A higher chance exists for tooth decay to develop.
The position of teeth affects their alignment determines their susceptibility to tooth decay because cleaning becomes more challenging.
6. Bite Problems (Malocclusion)
Malocclusion of tooth eruption results in a need for orthodontic treatment as it creates the conditions of overbite, underbite, and crossbite.
Treatment of problems with tooth eruption early on avoids a longer treatment process and reduces the time required for treatment.
How to Fix Abnormal Tooth Eruption in Kids?
Treatment options vary according to the age and stage of dental development of the child and severity of the condition. Dr Aishwarya’s Dental Clinic provides personalized dental care depending on x-ray findings and comprehensive medical evaluation.
The following treatment methods represent the most frequently used approaches.
1. Tooth Extraction (If Baby Tooth Blocks Permanent Tooth)
The milk teeth have to be extracted when the permanent teeth start erupting, but the milk teeth do not fall off. A permanent tooth will come to the right position by natural movement after the early extraction of the milk tooth.
Patna’s parents often visit Dr. Aishwarya’s clinic for the extraction of teeth in children, as their teeth do not erupt as expected. In Dr. Aishwarya, B.D.S, M.D.S (Gold Medalist) Clinic, the team of specialists performs painless tooth extraction in Patna safely under the supervision of Dr. Aishwarya.
2. Minor Oral Surgery Procedure
The process of tooth exposure through minor surgery becomes necessary when teeth become trapped inside the gum tissue. The procedure serves to expose impacted teeth for proper eruption during the teenage years, when canines and molars need extraction.
The surgical procedure enables tooth eruption through its natural path while protecting surrounding teeth from damage.
3. Early Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment is provided to children between 6-11 years to address the concerns associated with tooth spacing, oral habits and facial bone development. The treatment involves expansion devices and space maintainers and habit-breaking appliances along with interceptive braces to guide the teeth into the desired positions.
Get an ideal orthodontic expert in Patna at Dr. Aishwarya, B.D.S, M.D.S (Gold Medalist) clinic, as she creates a treatment plan that aligns with natural tooth growth to prevent the need for complicated dental procedures down the road.
4. Braces & Realignment Treatment
The treatment of abnormal tooth eruption and jaw misalignment requires braces or clear aligners as the main solution. The treatment system uses braces and clear aligners to achieve perfect tooth alignment and bite correction and smile perfection.
The treatment options include three main types of braces and two aligner systems for teenagers.
- Metal braces
- Ceramic braces
- Self-ligating braces
- Clear aligners for teens
The results of professional monitoring deliver long-lasting results that appear aesthetically pleasing.
Steps to Prevent Abnormal Tooth Eruption
Early dental care helps prevent most eruption problems, although genetic factors remain unchangeable.
Parents should follow these steps for prevention:
1. Regular Dental Check-ups
Children should visit the dentist for their first appointment at age 1 and then every six months thereafter. The process of monitoring teeth during the early stages helps doctors identify potential eruption problems.
2. Maintain a Good Nutritional Diet
The development of teeth benefits from consuming milk and leafy vegetables and eggs and nuts and foods that contain vitamins.
3. Avoid prolonged thumb-sucking & pacifier habits
The practice of thumb-sucking and pacifier use for extended periods will cause problems with jaw development and tooth positioning.
4. Monitor Baby Teeth Shedding
Parents should seek dental professional help when their child’s baby tooth fails to fall out naturally during its expected time.
5. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Children should learn to brush their teeth twice each day while also practicing flossing and mouth rinsing.
6. Use Space Maintainers When Needed
A space maintainer should be used when a milk tooth extraction occurs before its scheduled time to preserve space for permanent teeth.
Early intervention helps decrease both the number of required treatments and their duration that patients need to undergo in their future.
Conclusion
Delayed tooth eruption is common in children, but early diagnosis and treatment can make it fully reversible. If left untreated, this problem can lead to severe dental complications, such as crowding and malocclusion and dental caries and confidence issues. To make the correct diagnosis, an early assessment must be performed by an experienced pediatric dentist or orthodontist.
Dr. Aishwarya B.D.S, M.D.S. (Gold Medalist) stands as the top recommendation for children who need help with their tooth eruption problems. The clinic is one of the most experienced dental clinics in Patna that provides comfortable treatments and orthodontic procedures, along with professional kids’ tooth extraction services. Dr Aishwarya prepares customized treatment plans that when paired with his gentle treatment helps the child gain healthy, straight and confident smiles.
Early dental intervention supports your child’s development of healthy teeth and a self-assured smile.
