Do prem babies teeth grow more slowly?

[ephrinedaily]

Bit of a weird one really, but DS was born at 35 weeks, is now 14 months and only has two teeth - the bottom front two.

Is it because he was early or is it just him? Both Grandmas say we got our teeth 'on time'!

PS He has been teething since 4 months anyway so have had no let-off on that score.

Please let me know your experiences either way.

A friend of mine's DD1 didn't get any teeth until she was over 1 year old aswell- and she was 2 weeks late.

I've no idea whether this is/can be related to prematuratity or not. I can't remember when my DD (26 weeks) had her first teeth, but by the photos had at least the 4 front ones by 15 months corrected age.

Also have a friend who still, at the grand old age of 38, has some of her milk teeth.

It seems teeth have a mind all of their own

Oops, 15 months UNcorrected age. Duurrrrr.

I'm not sure but DD2 was exactly the same as your DS. Born at 35 weeks and no teeth at all until 14 months and then only her two bottom ones for a couple of months after that. I'm sure it's only anecdotal evidence though.

Thanks everyone I think I may blame it on his prematurity till he grows some more or everyone stops asking me about it!

DS (born at 30 wks) cut first tooth at 13.5 months old (uncorrected), and was "late" getting all of his.

DD (born at 36 wks) was also 13 months (uncorrected) before getting any teeth!

Both DH & I were "normal" and cut first teeth around 6 months, so don't think there's any genetic link...

I definitely think prematurity seems to delay teething as heard many mums of preemies have similar experiences, but don't think it's indicative of anything serious and it shouldn't cause them problems with eating or speech.

DD born at 36 weeks. Can't remember exactly when she got her first teeth but was earlier/around the same time as all the other babies her age. Now 18 months and has more than most babies her age

I looked this up as my DS had no teeth until the week before he turned 1.

Apparently the teeth are 'timed' to come through at a certain chronological age. If your child is premature, the teeth will come through at the time they are set to do to and won't 'know' that they were born early.

As a result, teeth are often later to appear as they don't come any earlier than they would have had the child been born on their due date IIRC.

I know prematurity can be related to yellow teeth so it wouldnt surprise me. The yellow is something to do with antibiotics so early in their lives.

My ds had all his teeth 19 months one week corrected. He was born at 33 weeks. He lived on antibiotics for the first 3.5 years of his life and still has them more than normal children. No adverse affect on his baby teeth but dentist says that his adult teeth may be affected.