Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Child's adult teeth are missing

35 replies

TrojaninTroy · 10/07/2021 08:56

I wonder if there are any dentistry technicians who could help with this?

I had a virtual consultation with the orthodontist yesterday, alongside DS, who is nearly 8. As far as I knew, our dentist had made a referral for him because of over-crowding in his bottom jaw. The orthodontist confirmed this, but to my surprise told us that his dentist had reported that his two top lateral incisors (so right next to his two very front teeth) are not in gum. This condition is known as hypodontia. She said he would likely have to have bridgework or implants put in when he is older. This came as quite a shock, as his dentist had not mentioned this to us.

I discussed this with DH later. DH was the one who took our DS to his original dentist. He said that the dentist had never taken dental x-rays. So we are a bit puzzled as to how the dentist came to report hypodontia.

Is there anyway that teeth missing in gum can be detected without an x-ray? I am hoping against hope that a mistake has been made, as this seems quite a big deal for DS.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Chickenwing2 · 10/07/2021 09:03

I have this! Im 32 and still have two baby teeth. I didn't even know this until last year. The dentist told me as long as I take care of them its fine, that they will come out earlier than my other teeth and I will get a bridge at that point. As long as your son looks after his teeth they can last a long time.

TedGlenn · 10/07/2021 09:17

No, I don't think they would be able to tell without an x-ray; I still have a baby tooth but my adult tooth is still way up in my jaw, just facing sideways so was never going to erupt! So while your dentist will have known they were baby teeth from their appearance, I can't see how they could state the adult teeth were missing without an X-ray.

Perhaps your DS had an X-ray before?

I have kept my baby tooth (canine) for 45 years!

Original poster

TrojaninTroy · 10/07/2021 09:41

Thank you for your comments TedGlen. We would definitely remember if DS had had a dental x-ray. He never has!

OP posts:

ineedaholidaynow · 10/07/2021 09:46

I don’t know how they can tell without an x-ray, but both DS and I are missing adult teeth. It is meant to be hereditary (so makes sense that DS is missing one if I do too) But both instances were picked up by x-ray. I am missing 2 molars at the back which don’t have corresponding milk teeth. DS’s missing one is an incisor so still has the corresponding milk tooth.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/07/2021 09:51

I have this and can't see how it could be diagnosed without an xray. It's not a big deal although I wish it had been discovered before they pull out loads of my teeth due to overcrowding. Teeth move around naturally and fill gaps. I still had a baby tooth until my later 30s. Eventually it gave up the ghost and was replaced with a bridge. The other side was filled with a bridge nearly 30 years ago and is still going strong. It was cemented back in once when it fell out, but they used the same appliance.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 10/07/2021 09:56

Should have said mine are canine, 3 out of 4 missing so fairly obvious visually

Cacacoisfarraige · 10/07/2021 09:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DinosaurDiana · 10/07/2021 10:00

Two of my children and missing adult teeth, both need an implant but it’s far too much money for us to pay.

iamtopazmortmain · 10/07/2021 10:01

I'm 53 and have two milk teeth - no adult teeth underneath them and in the same position as the OP described. My dentist is impressed with how well they have lasted.

Candleabra · 10/07/2021 10:04

I had two missing adult teeth. I had dental implants a few years ago. The milk teeth were still in place then though, so they can last a long time.

hennybeans · 10/07/2021 10:06

I have 4 missing adult teeth.

1 baby tooth is fine
1 I had removed in my early 20s and just left the gap.
1 had removed at 40 and replaced with an implant after a failed bridge.
1 is still in place but on its last legs and will be replaced with an implant soon.

Original poster

TrojaninTroy · 10/07/2021 10:14

Thanks to those who have mentioned they have adult teeth missing. What I would really like to know is whether this definitely had to be 'diagnosed' with an x-ray. DS appears to have been diagnosed without one. For the record, his milk teeth in the 'missing' position have already come out, one of them quite a few months ago.

OP posts:

Callingallbutterflies · 10/07/2021 10:27

I still have two baby teeth. Still going strong and I take good care of them. (I am 46 and they are my bottom middle teeth so first ones I got!) my youngest daughter has been very late losing teeth so as the condition is genetic (my grandad and dad had one missing adult tooth) she was sent to the dental hospital for a full head xray to check. She has all her adult teeth! This is how my dentist wanted to check. Presumably it is absolute clarity.

blissfulllife · 10/07/2021 10:32

I'm pretty sure you'd need an X-ray to find out if youre missing adult teeth. My daughter didn't lose her canine baby teeth by age ten so dentist did an X-ray. That's when it was found she only had from two and bottom four adult teeth. I'd definitely question it op

ittakes2 · 10/07/2021 10:45

It is very unusual for an 8 year old to never had had a dental xray. I get that you say you would know - but I couldn't tell you when my children had dental xrays. It is likely he had them at a past visit with your husband and the dentist didn't mention the teeth issue? But other than that maybe the surgery has mixed up xrays - ring the reception during the day and ask them to check his records.

Cowbells · 10/07/2021 10:48

I'm missing adult teeth and so is DS1. I have a bridge and he will, in time. Expensive hassle but perfectly manageable.

Saisong · 10/07/2021 11:03

I'm almost 50 and still have 2 upper canine baby teeth. Every dentist always pointed it out, but I didn't have an x-ray until I was in my 30s. It was only then that I found out that the adult teeth were still in my gum - they are now lying sideways across the top of the other teeth - the x-ray looks really weird!

osprey24 · 10/07/2021 13:41

DS had only 3 upper incisors baby teeth, they came out at usual age to be replaced by 2 adult teeth. He had a small gap, sorted by brace. He is now 35 and nobody notices and he has had no problems.

treehearts · 10/07/2021 13:42

My SIL has this, but she lost the baby teeth at a normal age, and the teeth have moved around. So her canines are next to her two front teeth, if that makes sense? She has a small gap between her two front teeth, but no other unusual spacing, and you wouldn't even notice if she didn't mention it.

FelicityBennett · 11/07/2021 11:44

We were told this with our eldest by our dentist. Think they said it was the front ones by the canines that were missing and they can do some cosmetic changes but after having an X-ray turns out they’re not missing just set too far back to feel the roots and will hopefully e sorted by a brace

TheOrangeSharked · 11/07/2021 11:55

Its really unusual to refer a 7 year old for lower arch crowding. They will have barely any of their adult teeth. Especially as wait list times are quite long he would have been referred at what 6? Are you in the UK?

Are you absolutely sure that they didn't take an x-ray? No you cannot diagnose missing teeth without an x-ray. If they haven't erupted a year or so after their eruption date you could feasibly say 'missing or impacted' which would require a referral to an orthodontist, but even then you should take an x-ray.

I'd be really surprised if an orthodontist accepted a referral without an x-ray tbh. At 7 you wouldn't have the lateral incisors through anyway so the orthodontist would be thinking the same as you, where is the x-ray

The whole thing doesn't really make sense.

Cissyandflora · 11/07/2021 11:58

It’s quite a common condition. I think stats are one in 100 people have it. I have it. I believe my grandmother did. Presume it will continue to be inherited down the line. The best thing is not to worry. Get a good dentist and know that everything can be solved.

stayingaliveisawayoflife · 11/07/2021 12:03

My mum had no adult teeth. If the full condition is diagnosed then NHS treatment is free or so I was told by my dentist!

Toottootdrivers · 11/07/2021 12:05

I have this as well. I have a tiny stump for one lateral incisor and the other is missing. I don't have implants. I had quite extensive treatment and braces as a child so my canine (a baby tooth) sits next to my front tooth and there is no gap. Apparently I was offered an implant but turned it down because I didn't want any more treatment. I don't really remember. Please please please make sure that your son understands the implications of this when he's older. If my canine goes I will need to pay for an implant whereas I could have had it for free when I was a teenager

Justilou1 · 11/07/2021 12:06

I have 9 missing adult teeth (including all wisdom teeth, and nobody really minds missing those.) All of my 3 kids are missing between 3-5 teeth each. It’s a genetic issue (often Irish/Scandinavian background, often coeliac disease in the family, but not necessarily the same person.) You need to demand a bloody X-RAY!

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread