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DD's baby tooth just will not fall out , help!

14 replies

loopity · 02/01/2007 15:23

If anyone has got any advice regarding one of my dd's front teeth, I would be most grateful. She's just turned 7.
Her adult tooth started to show in gum around 4 months ago, behind the baby tooth which was barely wobbly. I took her to her dentist who reassured me this was normal and that the baby tooth would fall out soon, keep wiggling it etc.
Two months later the baby tooth was still in the gum. The root is quite long, hasn't "dissolved" like the root of the other front tooth did. The adult tooth looks almost fully through but still sitting behind its baby predecessor, almost looks like it is in the roof of her mouth. I showed it to another mum I know who is a dentist. She advised we take dd back to see our own dentist as she felt that there was quite a lot of root still. So, took her back to the dentist who looked like I was wasting his time, again told to keep wiggling tooth - he felt it would be too traumatic to pull the tooth out, just let it come out in own time.
This was two weeks ago. The baby tooth is still there, the root still looks massive and it has now split her gum very visibly upwards. DD is not in any pain - the wobbly tooth is just very annoying.
Sorry for such a long post, really keen for any advice. Btw, this tooth had been damaged when dd fell as a baby and had her dummy in her mouth. It bled badly at the time and was always a darker colour than the rest. Thanks!

OP posts:
ESSgonnaBEEafabnewyear · 02/01/2007 15:29

Message withdrawn

Jimjams2 · 02/01/2007 15:33

ds1 had something very similar- he had a double tooth for ages. I checked with my SIL (a dentist) who advised leaving it and trying to wobble it when he was asleep (he's severely autistic so no chance of getting anywhere near it when he's awake). It did finally fall out, but he had a doubletooth for ages. SIL was only concerned about how the adult tooth was growing- as that had come in straight she wasn't that concerned about the baby tooth.

NAB3 · 02/01/2007 15:33

Try seeing a different dentist at the same practice?

loopity · 02/01/2007 16:35

Thanks everyone . Jimjams, do you remember how long it took for the tooth to eventually come out? Her new tooth looks straight enough but far behind the baby one. The baby one looks awful - hanging out at an angle with big long root showing. Might take dd back to dentist(or get dh to!)in another few weeks if tooth not out, not sure whether to take her to the other dentist in the practice (it's a husband and wife team)

OP posts:
Jimjams2 · 02/01/2007 19:29

It did take ages but can't remember how long, seemed to be forever. If he hadn't been severely autistic I would have taken him to the dentist (no point as he won't open his mouth) . I really thought the whole tooth was through when he still had the baby one. It disappeared one night (like all his other baby teeth- god only knows what he does with them).

shosha · 02/01/2007 19:36

Message withdrawn

mooshy · 02/01/2007 20:29

dd1 had a row of about 4 baby teeth next to her fully grown second teeth for months.Dentist reassurred me that if there was no pain not to worry-is it causing pain ?
eventually baby teeth fell with no probs but it did take ages.She does have a beautiful set of teeth now (v pround mum ! )

suedonim · 02/01/2007 21:42

One of mine had the double tooth problem (can't remember which child, though ). Our dentist eventually whipped the baby tooth out, which was v easy, and then the new tooth swifty moved into its correct position. Hth.

loopity · 02/01/2007 23:05

Thanks again for your posts.
Think my main concern now is that the gum has split, it almost looks like the other tooth is forcing it out frontways through the gum, root intact - sounds gross I know, sorry. DD is not complaining of any pain though thankfully. Has anyone else's lo's had this experience and does the gum reheal properly over the new tooth when the other one finally comes out?

OP posts:
sandcastles · 03/01/2007 12:22

The natural process is that the adult tooth comes up under the baby tooth, there by forcing the root to absorbe & thus the baby tooth becomes wobbly.

When a tooth erupts behind or infront of a baby tooth, the above doesn't happen, so the root has to absorbe by itself, which takes longer.

When a child has a fall & bangs the teeth with an object, this can force the tooth out of alignment, even just slightly. or more often than not, jolts it up. This is what may have happened in your dd's case, or it could just be her natural biology forcing it to come thruugh in the wrong place.

You say the tooth is darker, this will be because the tooth is non vital (dead) because of the knock it sustained, but this won't (imo) have a huge effect on the teething process.

Now it sounds like the adult tooth is pushing for it's natural place in the tooth alignment & pushing the baby tooth forwards. This would cause some split in the gum, but once the tooth is out, it will heal & all should be fine. She could do warm salt water mouth washes, if you think she would be able to spit it out effectively, just to keep the area clean. Be careful with brushing the area. The fact that she is not complaining of pain is a good thing!

You should not feel like you are wasting your dentists time, she is his patient, he has a duty of care to see her & will be getting paid for it. Go as many times as you like! If you are not happy, see another dentist in the practice.

loopity · 03/01/2007 12:39

Sandcastles, thank you so much for your advice. Will start her on the salt water mouthwashes today.
The baby tooth did get jolted upwards, and also back ever so slightly, when she had her fall so there most probably is a tiny misalignment as you say. The split in her gum is getting worse, so will give it another week or so and then take her back to the dental practice if the baby tooth is still hanging in there. In the meantime, I'll supervise her teethbrushing closely and have the tooth fairy on standby!

Thanks again everyone

OP posts:
sandcastles · 03/01/2007 12:43

You are welcome.

I am sure all will be OK. I have seent his once & all was, indeed Ok. It looks worse than it is. I promise. The tooth just doesn't have anywhere else to go & is coming out the only way it can.

If it is at all wobbly, encourage her to fiddle with it. She may be able to help it out.

Good Luck.

loopity · 09/01/2007 20:43

Just to update you all and thank you again for your posts - dd's tooth (and root!) has just come out tonight. Don't know what the toothfairy is going to make of this one
Her gum still looks a bit of a mess with the split, but she has been using a salt water mouthwash daily to keep it clean so here's hoping it will heal soon.

Thanks
loopity x

OP posts:
sandcastles · 09/01/2007 21:24

loopity, glad it is out finally!

You should now notice that her gum will heal quite nicely & quickly.

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