Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

What is the reason front teeth are not erupting in Glen Iris?

Frequently parents call or visit our practice, since the primary teeth of their child had fallen and the permanent adult teeth are not coming through. The most common reason for this are obstructions in the eruption path or teeth that have “lost their way”. Here are some common causes

  1. Lack of space – When the jaws are too small for the size of the teeth, when one permanent tooth erupts it causes the loss of two primary teeth. Crowded teeth tend to erupt on top of each other of behind the primary teeth giving rise to “shark teeth”.

  2. Obstructions in the path of the emerging tooth – Some times “extra” teeth or supernumerary teeth develop on top of the regular ones.  These teeth are common in the area where the upper central incisors should erupt and create a barrier.

  3. Abnormal tooth position or angulation – As a result of trauma to the teeth or wrongly shaped teeth the position of the teeth and their eruption path changes. This can lead the teeth to erupt into other  teeth or get stuck after loosing their way.

In addition to these common reasons, there genetic and systemic reasons. Children with ectodermal dysplasia, cleidocranial dysplasia or Down syndrome may have missing teeth. Children which had suffered from lack of nutrition, chronic illnesses, hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism, or rickets can have missing teeth or display delayed eruption.

If a tooth is missing or a permanent tooth had not erupted after 6 months of the primary tooth being shed, it is not normal. It requires an examination to determine what is the reason the permanent tooth is not erupting, please ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

 

Anterior Crossbite & Abnormal Tooth Eruption – Early Treatment for Children in Glen Iris

A child as young as seven years old can have his or her first permanent incisors or molars grow in the wrong position. If left untreated, it can lead to a host of problems, may complicate future orthodontic treatment and may even require surgery to correct the malformation. On the other hand during a child’s growth we can influence the way the jaws develop and bring them into a correct relationship. A good example of an important malformation that requires immediate intervention is Anterior Crossbite as shown in the image here, where the lower jaw was pushed forwards by the way the front teeth meet.

Anterior crossbite is relatively a common presentation in the mixed dentition stage. It happens when the upper incisors develop behind the lower incisors. When the child is young, it is relatively easy to guide the erupting teeth to their correct position with a simple appliance. As shown in a completed treatment by Dr. Kaufman.

Don’t wait for the malformations to be more entrenched and difficult to treat. If you feel that your child’s teeth are starting to erupt in the wrong way or there are any missing teeth, please make an appointment to see Dr. Kaufman to have them checked.