Sharks, unlike most other animals, grow their teeth in rows, one behind the other. The rear teeth slowly push forward until they replace the front teeth. Most people know about that only as a fun science fact. Unfortunately, for some children it is an uncomfortable reality.
When most children begin growing
their adult teeth, the roots of their baby teeth dissolve, and the new tooth
pushes the loose tooth out of their mouths. Sometimes, however, the adult tooth
begins to force its way through the gums before the baby tooth comes out. In
this case, the adult tooth ends up behind the baby tooth, leaving one tooth in
front of the other, like a shark.
Much of the time, this occurrence is
harmless. Eventually, the baby tooth comes out before the adult tooth is
completely in place. When the new tooth finishes growing, it moves into its
final home in line with the other adult teeth. If the baby tooth doesn’t come
out on its own, we may have to extract it.
In rare instances, the “shark” tooth
grows in between two other adult teeth. In that case, we will have to shave the
sides of the two adjacent adult teeth through a procedure called “disking.”
Once that’s accomplished, we will move the permanent tooth into place, using
orthodontic braces to properly align the teeth.
If you are at all concerned about
the growth pattern of your child’s teeth, let us know. If we find that there is
no problem, then no harm has been done. But if it turns out there is a more
serious issue, it is better to catch it early. We will take dental x-rays to
see if there’s any real danger or if the teeth should just be allowed to grow.
Shark teeth do not pose an emergency, but they
can lead to problems down the line if not taken seriously. If you notice
permanent teeth erupting behind baby teeth, call KiDDS Dental in Liberty Lake at 509-891-7070 to make an appointment so we
can assess the situation and take any necessary steps.
