Things Parents Should Know About Shark Teeth
Even if you do everything correctly regarding your child’s teeth, things may not always turn out perfectly. One example of this is when a child’s permanent teeth come in before the baby teeth have fallen out. This phenomenon can be referred to as “shark teeth”. Shark teeth come to be when these adult teeth form behind the baby teeth, creating a double row of teeth. This can occur when there is a lack of eruption of the permanent teeth or a failure of resorption of the primary teeth. Either or both conditions can result in the baby teeth not falling out when they should, thus resulting in “shark teeth”.
When and Where Do Shark Teeth Occur?
Shark teeth can develop at any point as your child’s permanent teeth begin to come in and replace their baby teeth. That having being said, they often occur when lower permanent teeth start to come in at around age 6. They may also occur as late as age 11-12, when the upper back molars begin to erupt. Shark teeth are most frequently found in the lower front teeth (incisors), although they are found in the upper incisors as the adult molars grow in and develop.
What Should I Do If My Child Has More Than One Row Of Teeth?
Shark teeth don’t always need to be treated, as the primary teeth will often become loose and fall out on their own. The important thing to consider is whether the adult teeth are being significantly deflected. It is critical to keep regular dental appointments for your child in order to have ongoing dental eruption pattern assessments. Regular appointments will give your dentist the opportunity to check the development of the teeth so that any serious issue can be addressed before it becomes a larger issue.
If the baby teeth are forcing the adult teeth to erupt or develop improperly, your child’s dentist may recommend extraction of some of the teeth that are causing the problem. As the primary teeth are placeholders for adult teeth, they need to be removed at the proper time. You don’t need to worry unnecessarily, as shark teeth are not uncommon. They should, however, be evaluated if they do not appear to be correcting themselves naturally. Crowding of the teeth can also make brushing, flossing, and other activities more difficult.
At Wabash Valley Children’s Dentistry, we have a lot of experience with shark teeth. We can evaluate your child to come up with a course of action well in advance of any serious long-term problem. Even if inaction is the ultimate recommendation, we will guide you down the correct path. If you have any questions, call our office at 812-234-5437.
