Few things are cuter than the gapped-tooth smile of a toddler as they begin to lose their teeth. Losing baby teeth is a childhood rite of passage, but in some cases, this normal tooth loss doesn’t happen. Retained baby teeth occurs in an estimated three to seven percent of adults. The consequences of over-retained baby teeth can be more serious than you might think.
What are over-retained primary teeth?
When we are born, we have a set of approximately 20 baby teeth in our jaws, waiting to erupt beginning around six months. As we grow, our jaws grow with us, but our baby teeth need to make way for the full set of 32 adult teeth. Most people have all of their adult teeth by age 25, but in some cases, retained baby teeth get in the way of this timeline.
Retained primary teeth syndrome is a condition that occurs when one of two things happen (or both).
- The eruption of a permanent tooth does not occur within a year of losing the baby (or primary) tooth
- The baby teeth loosen as if to fall out and then tighten back into the gum
Retained baby teeth seem to occur most often in women. They are also found in specific places in the jaw. The left side of the lower jaw is host to more over-retained baby teeth than any other area of the mouth.
What causes adults to keep baby teeth?
While there is a normal range of time for children to retain baby teeth, sometimes they never fall out. The condition of over retained baby teeth that lasts into adulthood is called hypodontia.
It is not common to find adults with baby teeth, but it does happen. There are seven main causes of retained baby teeth in adults, including:
- No adult teeth present to take their place
- Ankylosis
- Pathology
- Infection
- Trauma
- Misalignment of permanent tooth
- Genetics
Let’s look at these in more detail.
1. No adult teeth to take their place
By far the most common cause of over retained baby teeth is the fact that there is not an adult tooth waiting in the wings.
The adult tooth’s job is to help the baby tooth fall out by dissolving a baby tooth’s roots as it begins to form. Without this, baby teeth may last into adulthood.
2. Ankylosis
Baby teeth that do not follow the regular timeline of eruption, loosening, and loss may become fused (ankylosed) to the bone.
This can result in adults with baby teeth.
3. Pathology
There are several diseases that can result in impacted permanent teeth and over-retained baby teeth.
One of the most common is odontogenic tumors. These are non-cancerous but inhibit the proper formation of adult teeth.
4. Infection
Infection caused by poor oral hygiene may result in damage to adult teeth that have not yet erupted.
In some cases, this damage may cause the permanent adult teeth to be resorbed into the jaw as the infection begins to clear.
5. Trauma
Trauma to the mouth or face can also cause retained primary teeth syndrome.
If the trauma occurs as nerves and tooth roots are forming, it may be enough to slow or completely halt proper formation of the adult tooth.
6. Misalignment of permanent tooth
A permanent tooth that erupts at an odd angle may not provide enough push to force the baby tooth out.
In this case, adults may develop rows of what look like shark’s teeth, with one set of teeth forming in front of or behind another.
7. Genetics
Some people have a predisposition to holding on to their baby teeth.
It’s not clear why this occurs, but adults with retained baby teeth are most likely to have children who keep theirs as well.
Are there any dangers with retained baby teeth?
Retained baby teeth do present dangers for adults. The most pressing issue is cavities. Adults with baby teeth report more issues with decay and cavity than those with standard adult teeth. Baby teeth are not meant to be permanent. Their protective enamel is not as strong, nor is the material of the tooth itself. This makes them more susceptible to cavity.
Because tooth decay is an increased threat for over-retained baby teeth, the chance of serious periodontal disease also increases. Abscessed tooth, an infection in or around the gumline or bone, is also possible.
Retained baby teeth can also begin to change the structure of your entire bite as other teeth erupt. Adults with retained baby teeth most likely don’t have an entire mouth filled with them. Usually, one or two retained baby teeth cause most of the issues.
As adult teeth adjacent to the baby teeth begin to come in, over-retained baby teeth can influence the direction of eruption. If a baby tooth pushes a permanent tooth in one direction long enough, this can influence the bite.
A retained molar may also not allow wisdom tooth to erupt properly, which can result in impacted wisdom teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth are adult teeth that have not erupted through the gum and may be growing in the jaw sideways. These need to be surgically removed.
Retained baby teeth can cause major issues with bite and overall oral health. It is best to identify them in childhood if possible and treat them as soon as you can.
How can I get my retained baby teeth removed?
To prevent retained baby teeth, proper dental care is very important in childhood. Your dentist can monitor the proper loss of baby teeth and eruption of permanent teeth, quickly identifying any issues. X-rays can help to find the cause and guide treatment.
For some patients, retained baby teeth will not present a problem until later in life. Strong and healthy baby teeth that are in good alignment with the rest of the jaw can function well until around age 40. At that point, the tooth may begin to deteriorate or show diminished function (especially on chewing surfaces).
It is important to fully investigate the treatment possibilities of retained baby teeth, including extraction. AZ Dentist is your Phoenix area family dentist. We can help you explore all of your options. Give us a call today!