As a parent, you may be gearing up and learning about all the potential oral health issues that can occur in your child. While you may be familiar with the usual cavities, tongue thrusting, and the like, what if your child has two rows of teeth on the same arch? This is called shark teeth, but it’s important you know how to handle them. Here’s a guide on what you should know to protect growing smiles.
Just What Are Shark Teeth?
In short, shark teeth (or mesiodens) occur when a kid’s adult teeth develop behind or between their baby ones, making a double row. This can be caused by a wide range of things, such as genetics, crowding, or delayed tooth loss. As you might imagine, this condition can make your little one’s mouth look like the aquatic animal it got its name from!
Are Shark Teeth Anything to Worry About?
Shark teeth often occur in children between five and seven, while being common on the bottom front structures, but they can also happen with the upper incisors and primary molars as well. Regardless, many parents don’t generally need to worry about them. In fact, most cases don’t require any treatment. You can encourage your loved one to wiggle their baby teeth to help loosen them if you’re in this scenario.
That said, this condition can be worrying if the temporary structures don’t budge within two months. It’s important they come out so they don’t damage the adult ones coming in or cause misalignment. If the issue is located behind the molars, then crowding may be caused. In all, discomfort may be possible, so it doesn’t hurt to get it checked by their pediatric dentist.
How Can Shark Teeth Be Handled If Need Be?
Since shark teeth aren’t always an immediate issue. You should first wait it out. The baby teeth may fall out naturally in no time; that way, the permanent ones can come into their positions without needing any intervention.
In some cases, your child’s dentist may recommend treatment if the structures aren’t loose, causing problems, or will be an issue. An extraction can be beneficial to make room for the adult tooth to come in properly. If misalignment is the cause or if there’s a risk of future crowding, then an orthodontic evaluation may be needed to see how to give your loved one the proper tooth alignment they deserve.
Although shark teeth might seem like a strange thing at first, it’s important you know how to handle them; that way, they don’t cause any problems, and your child’s smile stays happy and healthy.
About the Practice
At The Dental Specialists Pediatric Dentistry, we are here to guide your child through every stage of their smile development. Our team of pediatric dentists is here for them, giving them the treatments they need in a warm environment they feel comfortable in. While shark teeth can be surprising, we can ensure there’s nothing to worry about with the right service or advice. If your child has a second row in their dental arch, schedule an appointment or call our office at (972) 364-7472.