Addressing Delayed Tooth Eruption With Your Child’s Dentist – Pediatric Dentistry

One of the goals of Pediatric Dentistry is to track the development of a child’s teeth and jaws. A child usually hits developmental milestones at the right time for that individual. Sometimes, though, the jaws or the teeth inside fail to form like they are supposed to. This often manifests as delayed teething.

A child whose teeth come in late or not at all may experience problems with speech, feeding and self-esteem. In the long term, delayed teething can lead to a bad bite that requires correction with orthodontic treatment.

This is why it is important to find a pediatric dentist for a child starting at a young age. The dentist can use routine checkups to monitor the growth of a child’s teeth. This can allow the early detection of problems and the correction of delayed teething before it causes long-term damage.

How teeth erupt in a healthy mouth

The first tooth should erupt between six and 12 months. Soon after the first tooth starts to grow, the second one generally appears as well. Between the ages of 12 and 24 months, a child should have, at the least, a few lower front teeth and a few upper teeth. By age three, most kids have a set of 20 baby teeth.

Imagine, then, how a parent feels waiting for a 14-month-old baby to grow a little white bud on the gums. Parents in such a situation may ask themselves what the problem is several times a day.

Common causes of delayed teething

If an 18-month-old baby still has no teeth, then a pediatric dentist generally starts to look for a cause for the delayed eruption. In some cases, delayed teething is a family trait and a dentist may tell worried parents to be patient.

Kids who are born prematurely are also more likely to experience delayed tooth eruption. In such a situation, a kids’ dentist can continue to track the child’s development and ask the parents to wait a little longer.

On the other hand, there are many underlying issues that could cause delayed teething:

• Impacted teeth: In this case, the teeth are blocked by a barrier in the gums or jaw.
• Embedded teeth: These have no physical barriers blocking them but lack an effective eruption mechanism in the jaws and gums.
• Congenital condition: Some children are born with defects that prevent normal eruption of the teeth.
• Underlying health conditions: A developmental disability like Down syndrome can cause failed or delayed teething. Cysts and tumors in the gums can also cause this issue.
• Fusion of the tooth and bone: This merging prevents the tooth root from pushing the crown upwards and outwards.

Treatment options for delayed tooth eruption

Pediatric dentistry offers many approaches to delayed teething. Treatment starts with a diagnosis that identifies the root cause of the failed eruption. Armed with the underlying cause, a pediatric dentist can craft a treatment plan to correct the problem.

If the root cause is illness or poor nutrition, the dentist often will recommend measures that improve the child’s systemic health and will continue to monitor the child’s progress. If the cause is impacted teeth, malformed jaws, a tumor or some other physical barrier, the dentist may use a surgical procedure to treat the child.

Dealing with delayed teething and other issues

Whether teeth have erupted or not, it is generally recommended to take a child to a pediatric dentist by their first birthday, just to make sure everything is fine. Pediatric dentistry involves routine dental checks for a baby. These regular checkups can put a parent's mind at ease as well as allow a kids’ dentist to closely monitor a child’s oral development. The dentist can reassure you when everything is fine and recommend treatment if it becomes necessary.

Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

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