Children’s Teeth Development
Children’s teeth development is one of the most crucial aspects of their health as they become older. For babies, teething is a normal developmental stage throughout the first year of life. Most babies sprout their first teeth between four and seven months of age. The central incisors, which are the bottom front teeth, pierce the gums first.
While some babies have one or more teeth from birth, most children get their first teeth months after birth. These teeth are known as “natal teeth.” A natal tooth or adult tooth is extremely rare, occurring in about one baby out of every 2,000 babies born.
Types of natal teeth
It’s not always the case that babies are born with teeth; however, some are. Four types of teeth are present in natal teeth. Your doctor can decide which case your infant has:
- fully developed, though loose, crowns affixed to a few roots’ structures
- loose teeth that don’t have any roots at all
- small teeth just emerging from the gums
- evidence of teeth about to cut through the gums
Most cases of natal teeth involve just one tooth. A greater rarity is having many teeth at birth. Lower front teeth are more common than higher front teeth. Less than 1% of infants with teeth have molar teeth.
Causes
Natal teeth can be difficult to make sense. Even if the precise cause of this occurrence is unknown, certain conditions may increase the chance that a baby may be born with teeth. During children’s-teeth-development, these teeth may be present in babies who have cleft lip or palate. Babies with problems in the dentin, the calcified structures that support tooth growth may also develop natal teeth.
The cause of baby teeth could be related to underlying medical issues. These include the following syndromes:
- Sotos
- Pierre Robin
- Hallerman-Streiff,
- Ellis-van Creveld
- Malnutrition during pregnancy is another possible risk factor.
Risk factors
In addition to certain medical issues, there are a few risk factors that can raise a baby’s chances of having teeth at birth. A total of 19% of newborns with teeth had close relatives who were also born with teeth. Parents and siblings are among them.
Malnutrition during pregnancy is another major risk factor.
With respect to gender, there was no difference in prevalence between males and females. However, some studies show predilection for females.
Symptoms
Baby teeth can occasionally resemble adult teeth. But usually, they are:
- Small
- Detachable
- Brown or Yellow
Complications associated with natal teeth
There are certain complications associated with natal teeth during children’s-teeth-development:
Aspiration Risk: Babies with moveable teeth have the possibility of falling out on their own, which makes aspiration more likely. It is considered quite improbable that a baby will aspirate, or inhale, a newborn tooth. But, as an aspirated tooth may cause potentially serious respiratory problems, such as blockage of the child’s lungs, the risk of aspiration should be taken into account.
Moving and pushing in: If the baby tooth is a supernumerary tooth, it could cause issues when the child’s succeeding teeth erupt. For example, having too many teeth can cause crowding, delayed or inappropriate emergence of permanent teeth, and improper emergence of teeth.
Feeding difficulties: Newborn teeth might hurt the mother or the baby when they are nursing. Tongue ulcers can occur in some babies. Moving the tongue back and forth during nursing might result in an ulcer on the underside of the tongue because infant teeth can be sharp and cone shaped.
Cavities: Cavities are more likely to occur in teeth with enamel hypoplasia or hypo mineralization than in teeth without these defects.
When to seek medical care?
Natal teeth are often left in their original positions when they are not loose. If, however, your child is born with loose, rootless teeth, your doctor may recommend surgical removal. Your child’s teeth could put them at risk for:
- choking as a result of mistakenly pulling a loose tooth
- feeding issues
- tongue injuries
- harm to the mother during breastfeeding
To determine whether a loose tooth has a solid root structure, an X-ray will be taken. In case that there are none of these structures, removal may be required.
FAQs
Why my baby born with adult teeth?
The exact causes of natal teeth are unknown. On the other hand, children with certain health disorders that limit their growth may experience them more frequently. If there is a family history of tooth eruption or any unusual dental development, it can be generic. Adults and newborns both develop teeth, and baby teeth fuse to the jawbone.
What should I do with adult teeth?
Look for any problems or newly emerging teeth in your child’s mouth. Your child’s dentist or other pediatricians can decide that your child doesn’t need any treatment. In some cases, infant teeth may be loose even though the root is not undeveloped. After that, the teeth might be removed. This lessens the chance that your child will inhale the tooth and upset their airways. The teeth may also need to be removed if they are hurting your baby’s tongue. An alternative would be to smooth the tops of the teeth. Your child’s tongue is protected by this.
Is Benzocaine-Free Orejel a Safe Choice for Babies’ Teething Pain?
Yes, all Orejel Baby products are safe for infants and free of benzocaine when used as directed by a pediatrician. Because Baby Orajel doesn’t contain the two major ingredients of adult Orejel—belladonna and benzocaine—it is harmless. Orajel is an oral pain reliever that works by cleaning the mouth and reducing pain associated with toothaches, gum inflammation, and dentures.