Worried about my 7 year olds son’s teeth.

[Mum21031608]

My son is seven and he still has his two front milk teeth, but his adult teeth are growing behind them and have been for some time. His milk teeth aren’t even wobbly and the adult teeth are coming through quite far back in his palate and are visible behind his milk teeth when he talks and smiles etc.

We took him on the dentist a few months ago who was really dismissive, said it wasn’t a problem and said to just come back in 6 months for his usual check-up.

But as the moths have passed and the issue seems to be getting worse I’m getting anxious.

Surely this isn’t okay?

I really want him milk teeth taken out to allow his adult teeth to come through properly and in the right position but I don’t know if I can request it?

I had a double row of teeth with the bottom two for ages. The adult ones worked their way forward once the milk teeth finally fell out. Never had braces or anything. They are a little crooked at the bottom but nothing that bothers me.

Gosh I’ve just remembered that I had this, strange how the mind forgets these things until prompted. The dentist did eventually take my baby teeth out. I had both sets there for a really long time though! Didn’t seem to cause any lasting problems, the adult teeth will move naturally once the baby ones come out.

You can always get a second opinion if you didn’t think the first dentist took your concerns seriously.

It's fine and really common! Don't worry. The milk ones will fall out at some point and the adult ones will then move forward.

My nearly 9yo DS has two incisors coming down in front of his baby teeth, which are a bit loose, but a long way to go before they come out. I was a bit concerned and phoned the dentist, who asked me to send a photo. He said it was better to leave things as they are. When I asked about the possibility of removing the baby teeth, he said that they were keeping the space open and that removing them could cause problems for the adult teeth coming down. He did mention that there was a chance DS would need braces further down the line but that it wasn't inevitable.

Keep an eye on it - my DD had this and we were also told that the adult teeth would eventually 'push' the baby teeth out. They didn't and she ended up having to have the two baby teeth pulled out - they were still really firmly attached and the dentist had to really yank to get them out! She couldn't leave them any longer though as they were so close to the adult teeth we couldn't clean them properly and the dentist was worried about decay.

My DS had this with his bottom teeth and the milk teeth didn’t seem like they were even remotely ready to come out, and I didn’t see how they would eve go without big teeth pushing them. My dentist said to wait and it would happen naturally, and it actually didn’t take long at all for the baby teeth to fall out.

As above.

You say you want the milk teeth taken out on your request. Are you happy for your son to go through local anaesthesia and tooth extraction unless absolutely necessary?

It’s pretty grim, and more than one tooth at once will be miserable for him. If the dentists are saying it’s not necessary I absolutely would not put a child through that.

You say you want the milk teeth taken out on your request. Are you happy for your son to go through local anaesthesia and tooth extraction unless absolutely necessary?

If it prevents him from potentially needing future orthodontic treatment and braces, then yes.

It’s just two upper front adult teeth that are emerging - I should have said that in my original post.

He had the thing happen to one of his lower front teeth but the milk tooth became wobbly and fell out within a month or so of the adult tooth starting to emerge.

I will get a photo of it tomorrow and show you how his top teeth are looking.

Thank you for all your replies.

You say you want the milk teeth taken out on your request. Are you happy for your son to go through local anaesthesia and tooth extraction unless absolutely necessary?

My DS(6) to went to the dentist last week and he removed a baby tooth that was not shifting where the adult tooth had come in behind it. The process took less than 10 seconds and the local anaesthetic was just a paste. DS is no stoic and he wasn't upset in the slightest.

My DC has this. The dentist isn't concerned, we just accept that DC will have braces when the time comes just like many of their peers will too.

My DS(6) to went to the dentist last week and he removed a baby tooth that was not shifting where the adult tooth had come in behind it. The process took less than 10 seconds and the local anaesthetic was just a paste

Well that’s good. Unfortunately it isn’t always that easy- my dc had a pretty rough time. It depends on the root and how ready the tooth is to come out.

If it prevents him from potentially needing future orthodontic treatment and braces, then yes

i don’t think that’s predictable. It also depends on things like overcrowding and growth- my dc had lovely straight teeth right up until they had a big growth spurt at 15 and went from not needing braces at all to qualifying for nhs ones.

Sorry for the really blurry picture but hopefully it’s clear enough to see what my concern is.

The two central teeth are obviously his two front top ones, and then the adult tooth coming out behind them in a very strange position.

I really don’t know if I’m overreacting or not

Forgot to add the picture, lol.

Just to say OP that looks pretty normal - DS's teeth were like that in Feb and the dentist checked it and said it was fine to wait a few months and the tooth would almost certainly come out.

By July it hadn't, and the baby tooth was now sticking forward, which is why he took it out. If you ring them up and say there is absolutely no movement and you are getting worried, they will probably book a review in a month (by which time they may be out anyway).

My dc’s teeth were the same with two whole upper rows of teeth. I first noticed it when they threw their head back to laugh and I screamed in shock. Again, the dentist said it wasn’t a problem and to wait for the milk teeth to come out naturally which they eventually did.

My son has the absolutely tiniest of teeth - to the point where the ones he has lost, barely have roots. I think this is why I’m so worried, I assumed the adult teeth would easily cause the milk teeth to come out but there’s been nothing to suggest that since the 4 months ago we first noticed the adult tooth had erupted. Let me get a photo of the front of his teeth to show what I mean....

It does look like the one on the right, so his left, has shifted its position little?

Am I overreacting?

Hard to know without seeing it before, but when I say DS's tooth was sticking out, I mean it was becoming like a tusk! I think it wanted to come out but couldn't, whereas your DS's teeth look like they just aren't getting ready to drop out.

Do call the dentist since it is worrying you - they see thousands of little mouths, and they will know if anything looks unusual for his age.

The double layer in itself is pretty common - DS has a friend known as "Sharkboy" for this reason. He loves it and will be sad when he can no longer horrify strangers.

Just rang the dentist and got him an appointment for just over 3 weeks time.

In the meantime I will encourage my son to wobble them

I’m worried about turning up and being ‘that’ mom

Ah I wouldn't worry about that. It will only take them a few minutes to look at the teeth and probably reassure you that everything is as it should be. I'd be surprised if they need to take any action at this stage, but it's always best to hear it from the professionals!