Sometimes, permanent teeth grow in front of baby teeth. When this occurs, a child may have shark teeth. Fortunately, shark teeth cause no pain and only affect approximately 10% of all children.
If your child is coping with shark teeth, know that this issue may resolve itself when their baby teeth finally fall out on their own. A baby tooth extraction may be necessary if this does not happen. In the event their permanent teeth still require space to move into place, a procedure known as disking may be recommended. During disking, a bit of enamel will be removed from their baby teeth.
Although shark teeth may appear at any time, they are most common during two phases of a child’s development. The first phase is around age 6, when their lower front teeth typically grow in. The second phase is at around age 11, when their upper back molars make their debut.
What Causes Shark Teeth?
As children grow, their permanent teeth are supposed to dissolve the roots of their baby teeth. Once the root is gone, a baby tooth becomes loose. The baby tooth will eventually fall out and a child may wiggle or pull it to speed up the process.
Then, the permanent tooth will grow in the empty area. When shark teeth occur, the root doesn’t dissolve quick enough and the baby tooth remains in place while the permanent tooth fills the space behind it.
Schedule an Appointment at Gladwell Orthodontics
If you’re concerned about your child’s shark teeth, call our office at 919-453-6325 to schedule an appointment.
