Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

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

Original poster

DD7 top front teeth coming at odd angle - should I see the dentist now?

27 replies

zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:07

DD's permanent teeth are coming in at the same time. Both are at an odd angle, and I can see the shape of them in the gum above looking pretty crooked, with a gap between. Pic attached.

Will they definitely stay crooked with a big gap? Are they likely to 'settle' as the others come in? A friend of mine said it could go either way. DD only has two other adult teeth at the bottom and no sign of losing any others, so it could take ages for the others to come in.

Should I visit the dentist now or will I be wasting her time? Thank you!

DD7 top front teeth coming at odd angle - should I see the dentist now?
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Findahouse21 · 18/09/2021 23:09

Nothing dentist can do until the vast majority, if not all adult teeth are in situ. Just be scrupulous about brushing

SnarkyBag · 18/09/2021 23:14

I would say nothing they can do at this point. DS has a small peg tooth he’s 13 and still getting some of his adult coming through. Dentist has said no point addressing it until everything is through.

CheshireChat · 18/09/2021 23:16

DS has very similar teeth and I actually asked the dentist who said we have to wait and see.

Original poster
zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:17

Thanks for your reply. Looks like I'll just have to wait and see...

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 18/09/2021 23:18

I think you’d need to see about when the other teeth come in. If you’re due a checkup you could just ask casually then though?

Original poster
zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:18

And thanks for the other replies too. I guess the general consensus is they do look kinda crooked?

OP posts:
Findahouse21 · 18/09/2021 23:20

I think it's really hard to say while so little tooth is showing tbh. Is it particularly worrying you?

ProcrastinationIsMySuperPower · 18/09/2021 23:23

Dentist won't be able to do anything until all teeth are through, as others have said. Just wanted to add to that, though, that my DD's front teeth came through with a big gap and slightly wonky, but as the other teeth came in things moved round by themselves and the gap closed up completely. In the end she didn't even need braces.

Mischance · 18/09/2021 23:24

I am sure you take him for regular dental check-ups. Just ask the dentist next time you are there.

Original poster
zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:26

I guess it is, a bit. She did see the dentist fairly recently but I can't remember when! My concern then was about her chipped front baby tooth - which looked begun to look more and more short and 'stunted' as the rest of her teeth grew (it was chipped at about 26 months). It looked like she had a gap her whole childhood so far. Asked the dentist as was concerned the adult tooth could have been damaged behind and in fact she did an xray and confirmed that the adult tooth looked normal and to wait and see... sure enough, the chipped tooth came out, as did its neighbour but I've always been a bit concerned... I vaguely worried that the angle problem could be because of that, but it is both teeth...

OP posts:
KittenSmitten · 18/09/2021 23:29

It’s not always the case that nothing can or should be done until all adults teeth are done although this is by far the most common approach… It looks a little like there is an underbite? Or is that just and awkward photo smile? If there is some sort of cross bite issue I would see the dentist and bring that up as the primary concern… That sort of issue can be looked at now…

Mammaaof · 18/09/2021 23:29

What could the dentist possibly do?

Original poster
zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:32

Hmm, I'm not sure if there is an underbite...! I think that might just be the awkward grimace. I think we saw the dentist in May. So we're not due a check up yet. Teeth became wobbly and came out since then... and now this. I might ring the dentist and check when she was last seen, at least...

OP posts:
user1471530109 · 18/09/2021 23:34

Wait. You've all seen dentists since covid? Ours won't see you for a normal check-up...(did see eldest DD to refer her for brace though).

Just to reiterate what others have said. DD (nearly 12) has ridiculously crooked teeth and although been referred for a brace, the orthodontist says she still needs to wait 2 years until everything is fully through before being fitted for a brace.

KittenSmitten · 18/09/2021 23:34

It just looks like the lower canines sit on the outside of upper teeth… I just noticed as one of mine had an off bite- it wasn’t super visible at first but then it got worse and worse…

@Mammaaof the dentist can refer to the Orthodontist.

TableFlowerss · 18/09/2021 23:34

At this stage there is absolutely nothing they would do I’d bet my house in it. You see kids all the time with teeth coming through here there and everywhere but some how they end up fine. Occasionally they don’t but that’s when they’ll intervene.

This will be one the moments in a few years when DC has a fab set of knashers, that you’ll back and have a giggle to yourself that you were going to march him to the dentist at 7 when they’re barely just through.

I mean that in a nice way. Don’t worry OP.

Original poster
zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:37

@KittenSmitten I've just scrolled through a load of pics of her and I think you are right!!!! Gawd! I'd not even noticed that! Can a 7 year old be referred to an orthodontist, then? Or would that be something for later on?

OP posts:
Original poster
zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:42

@TableFlowerss thanks, yes, had a giggle at that! They are hardly poking through and here I am worrying already! Typical me... :-)

I will mention it (and the underbite! ) when we go again... in the next few months.

Thank you, everyone.

OP posts:
KittenSmitten · 18/09/2021 23:44

Yes they can. In fact cross bites are one of the few reasons that warrants early orthodontic intervention, or so my orthodontist has told me. I would definitely point out your concern and ask for a referral to ortho for this- at least then you are on the books and in their systems. This is all from personal experience btw so I happily admit I hold no qualifications.

Original poster
zzzz31 · 18/09/2021 23:53

I'm grateful for the advice and will definitely flag it up! Thank you!

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 19/09/2021 00:07

@user1471530109

We’ve seen dentists (me, DH, and four kids age 5-11) for our checkups. Long overdue though, ours stopped doing checkups at the beginning of Covid and you could only see a dentist if you were in pain/had a dental emergency.

I think it depends on where you are, I know family in Scotland have told me they can’t get in at the dentist as there’s such a back log of people who couldn’t be seen all through lockdowns. It’s things like this that seem small but have been so affected by Covid.

Mammaaof · 19/09/2021 04:32

@KittenSmitten they will not do anything until all the adult teeth are through, not even with the worse case in the world. As you've just admitted you have no qualifications on this matter.😊

vjg13 · 19/09/2021 12:48

If you do need an orthodontist referral in a few years, the waiting times for NHS can be long in some areas so do push earlier than you might think.Smile

BettyOBarley · 19/09/2021 21:13

DD is the same age and a few of her friends teeth are coming in like this so I think it must be fairly common? In fact DDs teeth next to her two front teeth are cuttinf in very high up so she may also have similar. She has quite a prominent gap between her two front teeth as well due to a lip tie and the dentist has always said nothing they can do until all adult teeth are in, to see what's what.

purplesequins · 19/09/2021 21:17

looks normal to me.
mention it at the next 6month check up but ime teeth move about quite a bit until fully out.