Adult teeth impacting baby teeth - what will they do?

[Pennethorne]

DD8's adult teeth are erupting in numerous places, pushing into her baby teeth which show no sign of even loosening. The dentist said he'd refer her to the hospital to advise. However, that was months ago, obviously everything is very slow now.

What are the risks of delay? I'm concerned the adult teeth could become damaged or decayed by their close proximity to the baby ones. One seems to have no space at all and looks at risk of starting to come out prominently in front. A molar has emerged and has begun to partially push out the baby molar, leaving a hollow gap between the tooth top and the gum - surely also a risk.

What methods might correct this? I'm thinking that 'wait and see' is unlikely, and removal of the baby teeth is a possibility?

Anyone dealt with this? It must be pretty common.

DH has this when he was younger & had about 6 baby teeth out in one go, plus they took his wisdom teeth out at the same time. This was under GA.

Randomly, one of his baby teeth doesn’t have an adult tooth underneath, so he still has it in his mid 30s.

He says he didn’t have them out straight away, he had a couple of adult teeth that had erupted through. He doesn’t have the straightest of teeth but they are a hell of a lot healthier than mine!

Likely that they will take out the baby teeth under GA but at 8 I don’t think they would rush to do this so I wouldn’t worry about the delay. They do wait and see a lot with teeth. My DS had similar problem and suddenly one day one tooth came out (adult tooth already behind it) and then one more the next day and three days later the third came out. After not being loose for months. Still had another couple of stubborn ones removed but there wasn’t a rush as the hospital gives time for nature to do it’s work first.

DS1's adult teeth came up behind his baby ones. He had 2 sets (especially at the front) for a while. They all gradually fell out. There was one tooth left that didn't fall, it had to be removed but he didn't need GA. It's not at all uncommon.

I had 5 teeth removed at the dental hospital under GA when I was 7 for this reason.

Baby teeth are designed to resorb as adult teeth come through. You won't harm the adult teeth by them pushing on baby teeth this is what they are supposed to do.

Honesly at 8 I wouldn't worry about it, especially if you can see the adult teeth. I would expect him to have lost too many baby teeth at 8. The dentist just needs to extract the baby teeth that are in the way

Thanks all. She's obviously not keen on removal, I'm not keen on a GA (I choose it every time for myself, as tooth removal squicks me right out, but for kids it's so worrisome), and I'm obviously sitting here not knowing if 'waiting and seeing' is the right thing to do, or not.

I'm hoping the baby teeth really start to get a move on, they're being battered from below prematurely but they seem determined to hang in there!

Has the dentist done any xrays?

Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about it right now, how many teeth are we talking? Has she lost any?

I probably wouldn't go jumping to GA for some retained baby teeth at 8, but you've been referred to the hospital so just wait to see what they say.

This is a very definite "wait and see". As long as DD can keep it all clean, it will
Most likely sort itself out. If not, v simple under local anaesthetic. Try not to pass on your "squick" to her. Dental phobia is largely inherited.

Randomly, one of his baby teeth doesn’t have an adult tooth underneath, so he still has it in his mid 30s.

Me too. I’m missing several adult teeth. Genetically advanced, apparently.

@DishedUp

Has the dentist done any xrays?

Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about it right now, how many teeth are we talking? Has she lost any?

I probably wouldn't go jumping to GA for some retained baby teeth at 8, but you've been referred to the hospital so just wait to see what they say.

Aye, it's the waiting that's bothering me. It's been 5 months now.

No x-rays done yet.

She's got three teeth which are bashing up against their baby counterparts and one that has no room to come down, so it looks like it might just shed its gum skin and sit there above.

My adult teeth grew behind my baby teeth, they eventually fell out, I was never gappy and never needed a brace.

My daughter lost 4 teeth naturally. Her mouth is tiny and she had double rows of teeth and some coming through the roof of her mouth.
Mostly she had the extras removed by the dentist. The final 6 including fangs were done under GA at the local hospital prior to braces.

DD's teeth are doing this. She's 8 in June and hasn't lost any teeth yet. DS is 7 in July and also hasn't, but he doesn't have 'shark teeth' yet. Our dentist is only seeing emergencies at present, so we've not been for 16 months (we were due to go in the Easter holiday last year) so have had no advice yet.