31 May Does Your Child Have Two Rows of Teeth?

Children typically start losing teeth between the ages of 5 and 7. This process begins when permanent (adult) teeth erupt and replace the baby (primary) teeth. What actually happens is as the permanent tooth erupts, it dissolves the root of the baby tooth, causing the baby tooth to become loose. However, sometimes when the permanent tooth erupts in a different position, it does not completely dissolve the root of the baby tooth. This is what leads to your child having two rows of teeth, sometimes referred to by parents as “shark teeth”.

What should we do?
You can be assured that this is a fairly common occurrence with children and if addressed early is usually easy to treat without any future ongoing problems. If your child has two rows of teeth, first check the baby tooth to see if it is loose. If it is loose, encourage your child to wash their hands with soap and then wiggle the tooth until it falls out. Sometimes the permanent tooth erupts and the baby tooth is not budging. If this is the case, call or e-mail us to discuss the next step. Your child may need to have the tooth removed or given an extra wiggle by the dentist.

What happens if we do nothing?
If your child has two rows of teeth, the permanent teeth will start to deflect and move out of their natural position, which could lead to more future orthodontic care.