Why does it look like my child has shark teeth? As pediatric dentists, we hear this question frequently.
When a child reaches school-age, the permanent front teeth begin to erupt. In a previous blog post, we discussed the average ages when the permanent front teeth are supposed to erupt.
The theory is that when a permanent tooth erupts underneath a baby tooth, it is supposed to resorb the root of the baby tooth which is why the crown of the baby tooth eventually becomes loose and wiggles itself out (sometimes with a little help from the parents!).
Sometimes, the adult tooth erupts in a different location than normal, and therefore does not do its job of resorbing the baby tooth root. In this case, it may look like your child has two rows of teeth, one row of adult teeth and one row of baby teeth.
If this happens to your child and the baby teeth are very loose, by all means, go ahead and wiggle the row of baby teeth! If the row of baby teeth are not very loose or you are having difficulty wiggling them out, contact your pediatric dentist. It is important to wiggle the baby teeth out so that the adult teeth can move forward into their natural position. If the baby teeth are left in place for too long, this can lead to crowding, rotations, and problems with how your child’s teeth function and fit together.
So if your child’s teeth resemble a shark – no fear, it’s not as scary as Jaws. Hang in there, and make sure to ask your dentist any questions you may have at your child’s next check-up appointment.
Elizabeth Miller, DDS, MS is a pediatric dentist at Atkins, Maestrello, Miller & Associates Pediatric Dentistry in Richmond, VA. She is a new mother, active runner and her favorite movie is "Finding Nemo".
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Dr. Miller,
I have a grandson, 12 years of age, who has four extra teeth (double row) in the front of his mouth. He has no insurance to take care of this problem and I have just found out his 17 year old son has one (double row) tooth. In order for the 12 year old to have this corrected, it will cost approximately $2500. My question is are there any dentists who will perform this type of surgery at a reduced price or possibly free? They are currently residing in South Bend, IN. Any assistance you may provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time in this matter and hope to hear from you soon. God bless you!
Hi Vanessa,
You might ask the Indiana Dental Association (IDA). Most states have dental organizations with resources and suggestions to help fill local dental needs.
Here’s a link to their “Low Cost Dental Care” page: http://www.indental.org/Low-Cost-Dental-Care
Good luck!http://www.pediatricdentistrichmond.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-form
hello dr, I’ve just found out that my 6 years old is growing 2 teeth ( lower front) . I was very worried until I read your explanation. I will wait for the baby teeth to wiggle out and if not visit the dentist..This is all I have to do right ?
There is usually nothing to worry about, but every case is different. Your child’s dentist can give the best advice once they examine the teeth that are coming in. Good luck!