Toddler is missing a tooth - worried

[teethworries]

My son is 18 months old. He has four front teeth on the bottom but only three on the top - one of his lateral incisors still hasn’t come through. I’ve just done a Google and apparently all four lateral incisors should be present by this age on the top and bottom. I’m really concerned that the missing one is just not there! Does anyone else have any experience of this?!

Sorry if this is stating the obvious but can’t you take him to the dentist?

I wouldn't fret. My DD is 22m and only has 10 teeth, her cousin who is two weeks younger has nearly all his teeth. My colleagues little girl at 14 months grew one tooth at a time for the first four, then next 4 came together. It'll come through eventually. Your baby didn't get the tooth growing memo
If you're worried, better asking a dentist?

Why would you be really concerned about a missing baby tooth (if it is)? It’s the adult teeth you need to worry about.

My ds has missing adult teeth, which is a worry. You would need an x Ray to see that in the jaw.

A trip to the dentist should reassure you.

My DD had no teeth at all until 13 months. They then came thick and fast, but she certainly didn’t have 8 teeth aged 18mths.

I just find it strange that only one of the lateral incisors has come through, as I thought they arrived in pairs? And I’ve just read that he should have all four by now, which has worried me further.

DS goes crazy at doctors appointments (starts crying hysterically) so I’m dreading taking him to the dentist. Do you think I should get him checked out?

Yes - to reassure yourself. No harm in getting his teeth looked at anyway.

Yes I think they recommend by age 1 you take them for first dental appointment. If you have t already you could try reading him some stories about visits to the dentist e.g. we have the peppa pig goes to the dentist story, to get him prepared. He will probably get a sticker too.

How do dentists deal with screaming toddlers? And are they likely to do an X-ray in this scenario?

If he is likely to be wary of dentists, taking him to a friendly one for check ups before anything needs done is a good idea anyway. Will help him get used to them for if he ever does need treatment

They usually get given a sticker, and the moving chair is a novelty.

Not to say you shouldn’t get this checked out, but years ago I remember taking one of my dc to the dentists and saying that they should have more teeth at this age. Their reply “ do you want me to pull them through the gums” !
So i guess there is a lot of variation, having said that, even if they should arrive in pairs, and one hasn’t, what do you think the dentist could actually do?

You can usually sit on the chair with him on your knee. Possibly try bribery eg you can have this sugary snack afterwards if you’re good…🤣

what do you think the dentist could actually do?

I don’t know really - maybe clarify if it is actually there and what it will mean for his other teeth and future dental issues if it’s not?

I remember DD got her 2 bottom, 1 top incisor one then her 2 front teeth, and then 4 molars before her other top incisor tooth came in,

DS screams blue murder when the doctor comes anywhere near him, so I just can’t see how the dentist is even going to get a look-in?

op relax! paediatric dentist here. baby teeth can come through at any time and in any order it doesn't necessarily have to follow a set pattern. as long as all 20 are there by 3ish latest that is fine. maybe think of it as unerupted as yet rather than "missing" also you wouldn't do an x ray in this age group either. and if toddlers are screaming it is actually a lot easier to see their teeth as their mouths are wide open!! just make sure you are brushing whatever teeth are there

It's pretty common to be missing second incisors and often inherited.

I don't have either of my top ones and neither does DS3. He still has baby teeth there as there has been nothing underneath to push them out and he's 20! I only had a baby tooth on one side.
I also don't have wisdom teeth at the top (but the bottom jaw is complete).

@teethworries

I just find it strange that only one of the lateral incisors has come through, as I thought they arrived in pairs? And I’ve just read that he should have all four by now, which has worried me further.

DS goes crazy at doctors appointments (starts crying hysterically) so I’m dreading taking him to the dentist. Do you think I should get him checked out?

You need to practice taking him so he gets used to it

Thanks @yummytummy. Would the dentist be able to tell us if the tooth is there or not by feeling the gums? Thinking about it, he has quite a big gap between his two front teeth - could that be a sign that one of the incisors is missing?

Thanks @ew1990, that has given me hope!

@teethworries

How do dentists deal with screaming toddlers? And are they likely to do an X-ray in this scenario?

No.... Why would they?

Your baby is still young and teeth grow in at different rates.

Start taking him to your own dental / hygienist appointments so he sees them “counting your teeth”. Make it normal.

My DD got her first tooth at nearly 17 months. Apparently this was just with the normal range!

@00100001 they do, but according to the charts the lateral incisors should have been in four or five months ago.

Don't knock it, my 17 month old has almost all her teeth and we are heartily sick of sleep deprivation from teething. Cannot wait for it to be over! On the plus side we took her to the dentist and she sat on my knee and was surprisingly good. Then proudly wore her sticker all day. Teeth are such a stress!

op incisor spacing and gaps are normal at this stage. as kids grow and the jaw grows the teeth move and shift naturally. you can't always feel unerupted teeth but 9 times out of 10 they are there and will come eventually. that's why it is always best to wait and we wouldn't x ray until or unless a child was 6/7 and had no loss of baby teeth etc