Most people think of baby teeth as just temporary—something kids lose and eventually replace with adult teeth. But sometimes, adults retain their baby teeth. Unfortunately, this can cause several problems, from aesthetic issues to severe health concerns. Thus, let's take a closer look at what causes adults to keep their baby teeth and what treatment options are available.
What Are Adult Baby Teeth?
Most people lose all of their baby teeth by reaching adulthood. However, sometimes adults retain one or more of their baby teeth. This is called retained primary dentition (RPD). Retained primary dentition can occur for some reasons.
The first is due to the early loss of baby teeth due to decay or trauma. This is the most common cause of RPD. If a child loses a baby tooth early on (before it's had a chance to erupt fully), the adult tooth may not come in correctly behind it. As a result, the adult tooth can become impacted or misaligned. Additionally, there is the delayed eruption of adult teeth. Sometimes, the adult teeth don't erupt until after most children lose their baby teeth. This can be due to several factors, such as poor oral hygiene, infection, or genetics.
What Should I Do If I Still Have Baby Teeth as an Adult?
There are several ways we can fix problems associated with retained primary dentition. The first is to correct any alignment issues between the baby teeth and their corresponding adult teeth. This can be done using a variety of orthodontic treatments, such as braces or retainers. If we find impactions (when it's difficult for the tooth to come in), they might recommend having it surgically removed so you can get proper treatment down the road. Finally, if there are too many gaps between your baby teeth or not enough space for them because one or more has been lost prematurely, we might need to extract some of them—but only after all other options have been ruled out!
Our team of specialists is experienced in treating adults with retained primary dentition. We will work with you to create a treatment plan tailored specifically for your needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
Location
Northview Family Dental 1121 E. Westview Ct. Spokane, WA 99218-1319
Most people think of baby teeth as just temporary—something kids lose and eventually replace with adult teeth. But sometimes, adults retain their baby teeth. Unfortunately, this can cause several problems, from aesthetic issues to severe health concerns. Thus, let's take a closer look at what causes adults to keep their baby teeth and what treatment options are available.