When Baby Teeth Don’t Fall Out

Sometimes adults retain their baby teeth. Although the problem is uncommon, you may actually know someone with a full mouth of teeth, but one or more little ones in between teeth of regular adult size. Most of us start to lose our baby teeth around 5 years of age up to 12 years, but why do some adults end up stuck like this with one or more primary teeth?

There are two potential answers. One is that a person keeps a baby tooth because there is no permanent tooth in line to replace it. This rare condition is called hypodontia, and it affects only a small percentage people. Normally, we all develop our permanent teeth, but in some cases they simply fail to grow. Without a permanent tooth to push it out, the baby tooth stays put and keeps it’s root. Genetics likely plays a part in this phenomena. It is also more common for this to happen in women than in men.

The second reason for keeping a primary tooth is that the adult tooth may be misaligned in the jaw. It’s in the jaw, but it never pushes the baby tooth out of place. In this case, the baby tooth must first be removed and then the permanent tooth is pulled down from the jaw using orthodontics. With this assistance, the problem is eventually resolved and the smile is complete.

Concerns for Adults with Baby Teeth

If you’re among the few that have one or more baby teeth into adulthood, it’s even more important to take good care of your teeth! Keep your appointments with the Yuba City Dentistry Group for check-ups every six months. Our dentist monitors retained baby teeth closely so you can keep them. A natural tooth, even a baby one, is better than a fabricated replacement, in most cases. Some retained baby teeth do not have a deep root structure to anchor them, so we may recommend replacement with an implant.

If you still have baby teeth into adulthood, contact the Yuba City Dentistry Group for a consultation to help decide the best course of action. Our goal is always your dental health and giving you a quality smile!

Mar 29, 2018 | Cosmetic, Orthodontics

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

google

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. They are absolutely AMAZING!! Hands down, it’s the best place to have dental work done. Every person who helped me was exceptional, from the receptionist, billing lady, x-ray tech, dental technician, and assistant to Doctor Cheema himself. They were all so kind and made me feel very comfortable. They answered every question I asked and never made me feel like my questions weren’t significant or valid. Everyone was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything to me in great detail.I called on a Tuesday about needing an appointment, and they got me in the next day. I came in for a root canal and cap placement. I had a tone of anxiety about getting this done since my brother had a horrible experience at a different location when we were kids doing this exact procedure (I could hear him screaming in pain from the waiting area). However, the doctor and dental assistant made me feel heard, relaxed, and taken care of. The whole procedure was painless. Even after the numbing left, when I got home, I didn’t have any pain. I’ve had cavities filled that were more uncomfortable than this was.I’m not the easiest person to please either due to having severe OCD being a significant perfectionist who’s a big baby when it comes to getting dental work done, all packaged up with anxiety. Needless to say, I won’t be going anywhere else. I highly recommend this dental office to anyone who needs your teeth worked on. They won’t disappoint, I promise you. Thank you again, Dr. Cheema, for doing such a great job on my teeth and answering all my questions.–Alvalene Floe