Losing a Tooth Too Soon

Posted by Dentalworks4kids on March 20th, 2015

Losing a tooth for children and parents can be a momentous occasion.  When this happens naturally it’s a rite of passage into another phase of childhood. However, when it doesn’t happen naturally and a tooth is lost before it’s time parents need to know that it is something to be concerned about.

Primary teeth, or baby teeth, not only are important to maintain for chewing, but also because they play an important role in the growth and development of the permanent teeth and jaw bones. Primary teeth play vital roles in maintaining space for the permanent teeth that grow in later.  Unfortunately for various reasons such as severe tooth decay, accidents, or certain types of health problems children can lose baby teeth before they are supposed to. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely it leaves a space or gap and this can lead to teeth shifting out of place.  As teeth shift out of place this can affect the way the permanent teeth develop leading to crowding and affecting the bite.  As the bite shifts as well this can ultimately affect the way the jaw bones develop. So if a tooth is lost what is a parent to do?

If a tooth is lost prematurely visit us at Dental Works 4 Kids as soon as you can. We will help your child manage the space of the lost tooth. This may entail a type of space maintainer to help prevent teeth shifting into the space and to ensure proper alignment of future permanent teeth.

If the tooth is lost due to a medical condition, such as a metabolic disorder, immunological issue or poor oral hygiene, we may perform special dental work to minimize further damage to the gums or surrounding teeth. Then we will help you make a plan to maintain your child’s oral health.

If the teeth have shifted because you were not able to get to us sooner it still may not be too late for us to help. Our Orthodontists can help manage any excess crowding or spacing through early interceptive treatment. The sooner this is done, however the better the chance there is to manage growth and development and perform corrective measures

Obviously, the best way to handle the premature loss of a primary tooth is to not lose the tooth in the first place. Having good oral habits like regular brushing, flossing will help. Visiting us at Dental Works 4 Kids as soon as the first teeth erupt and regularly thereafter will allow us to and to put preventative measures in place and together we can help keep the tooth fairy away—until you want her to visit.

About The Author:

Dental Works 4 Kids is a pediatric & an orthodontic health care specialist in Ontario, CA provides the highest standard of specialized and comprehensive oral health care and orthodontics for infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special needs. Dental Works 4 Kids offer a safe and welcoming environment with a focus on education and prevention for families in our community.