Why Aren’t My Child’s Baby Teeth Falling Out?
As a parent, it is normal to worry when you see that your child is developing more slowly than other children. One of the most common concerns is when there is a delay in getting their teeth and losing their teeth. However, most of the time, there is no need to worry. Understanding that each body develops differently can help alleviate the worry. In rare cases, the attention of an orthodontist is needed.
When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist
Parents often wonder if it is too early to take their 5 or 6-year-old child for an orthodontic evaluation. Orthodontists would recommend that you take your child whenever you have a concern, no matter how young your child is. This is because an orthodontist can spot development issues early, and he or she can intervene and prescribe the best treatment for your child’s jaw to develop properly and teeth to come in as normal and possible.
Problems With Baby Teeth
Baby teeth serve more than one purpose. Besides chewing, they also reserve space for the permanent teeth, and the permanent teeth are able to fully develop before they erupt. This is why when a baby tooth comes out very early, it is also a concern as space can be lost. This gives the permanent tooth no choice but to come out in a crocked way. In such cases, your orthodontist may recommend that a space maintainer be put where the missing tooth is until the permanent tooth is ready to come out.
When a baby tooth comes out too late, it can also cause the permanent tooth to come out crooked. When a permanent tooth is ready to come out, it will push its way up no matter what. Therefore, if a baby tooth is still there, the new tooth will come up next to it. If this is left untreated, it will not only give your child funny looking teeth, but it can cause other more serious problems as the child grows.
Primary Reasons for A Delay In Losing a Tooth
There are three primary conditions that can be preventing your child’s baby teeth from coming out.
The underlying teeth may be too crowded to push the baby teeth up and out.
There may not be any permanent teeth below the baby teeth.
Too many baby teeth can block the eruption of permanent teeth.
To rule out these possibilities, your orthodontist just has to take an x-ray, and he or she will be able to tell you if there is a serious problem. This way treatment can start early, and you and your child can relax.
Another common reason for a delay in losing teeth is that when baby teeth come in late, the permanent ones will also come in late. There is a wide period of time for what is considered normal for babies to get their teeth and for children to begin losing them. However, Dr. Matt Beecroft and the team at Beecroft Orthodontics recommends an early orthodontic evaluation to ensure your child’s teeth are developing normally, and that there is no problem that will affect the normal eruptive pattern of all your child’s teeth. For further consultation, schedule an appointment with us today.
Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia
Phone: 540-898-2200
Baby Teeth Guide