Premature primary tooth loss can result from dental trauma, newborn tooth extraction, early childhood caries, periodontal issues, or it might be a symptom of a larger illness.
Did you know that there is a precise time period during which a baby's tooth should naturally fall out? A child's first set of teeth is intended to aid in appropriate facial and speech development. Additionally, primary teeth act as guides for permanent teeth, positioning them in the right places. To ensure their oral health for the rest of their lives, it's crucial to keep your child's baby teeth in place until they are ready to fall out naturally. Baby teeth are required so that a youngster can chew food properly and promote excellent nutrition.
For most youngsters, normal tooth loss starts at about age 6 yrs and is finished by roughly age 12-15. As the permanent teeth press against the baby teeth, the roots of those teeth deteriorate through a process known as resorption. Over the course of a 2 to 3 month period, a lost baby tooth gets replaced by its permanent counterpart. The baby teeth stay in place until the adult teeth are prepared to erupt, acting as space holders for them.
When a tooth is extremely damaged and cannot be saved by a dental restoration, the dentist may recommend extraction, but a parent may also decide to have their child's baby tooth removed. There could be a number of problems if baby teeth are lost too soon, in the wrong order, or if a permanent tooth does not replace them within three months. In these cases, a child should see an orthodontist to see if interceptive treatment is necessary to avoid more difficult orthodontic challenges later in childhood.
What Leads to the Loss of Primary Teeth Too Soon?
The early loss of an infant's teeth can result from a number of situations, such as
Accident or injury related dental trauma;
Periodontitis, a severe gum infection that can make the supporting bone and gum tissue too weak to hold the teeth in place;
Certain medical situations, such as some types of childhood cancer or hypophosphatasia, a genetic illness that inhibits bone development
A primary tooth may also need to be removed before it is ready to fall out naturally due to severe infections brought on by dental decay. Similar to how a primary tooth that has gotten loose due to dental trauma may get infected an require removal.
Problems Associated With Early Baby Tooth Loss
A baby tooth that is lost too soon can lead to a range of dental and orthodontic problems, including:
Too much time spent with a gap in the mouth causes the other teeth to move into it progressively. These teeth will be misaligned and may prevent other baby teeth from naturally falling out.
The permanent tooth may not have enough room to erupt properly if the teeth become close together in the empty space leading to crowding.
The impact of previous teeth that have shifted out of place and pushed against the permanent teeth can cause damage to them both before and after they erupt beneath the gums. Closing the space created by the movement of the teeth on the right and left sides of the extraction site causes the permanent tooth to erupt later than planned and in a different position.
Loss of the dental arch's length results in less room for the permanent teeth to emerge properly, which leads to crowding.
Disruption of the molar-canine connection.
Midline shift in the direction of the extraction site
Changes in the overbite and overjet of teeth
Emotional and cosmetic issues
The opposing tooth will elongate if it cannot detect the contralateral tooth to halt its development.
How Can I Prevent Early Loss of Primary Teeth?
Even while it's not always possible to stop a child's tooth from falling out, you can do several things to lessen the likelihood of early primary tooth loss.
Start by encouraging your youngster to maintain proper oral hygiene. Make sure your youngster flosses frequently and assists him or her in brushing his or her teeth twice a day, every day. Serve balanced meals and limit your child's use of sugary beverages.
Next, ensure your youngster is wearing an athletic mouth guard to protect teeth and gums when playing sports. The best protection for your youngster is a specially constructed mouth guard fitted by their dentist.
Schedule routine visits for your child with a paediatric dentist. Regular dental appointments are essential for identifying and stopping early tooth loss. The dentist who treats your kid can determine the likelihood of early tooth loss using a mix of visual examinations and diagnostic radiography imaging. If the dentist finds that your child is particularly prone to early tooth loss, they can keep an eye on the teeth and work with you and your child to lower the risk.
Space Maintainers - Premature Baby Tooth Loss Solutions
Dental cavities are more likely to occur in young children due to the baby teeth's thinner enamel. You might be surprised to find that by the age of five, more than 50% of children will experience dental decay. Children who have untreated tooth decay may possibly lose the affected tooth. The spacing of adult teeth may be affected as a result.
Your child's paediatric dentist may place a space maintainer to protect the empty gap until the permanent tooth erupts if your child loses a baby tooth too soon. Space maintainers are dental appliances that are created specifically by your dentist or orthodontist to fit into the gap that the missing tooth or teeth have left. As a result, no further teeth can erupt into the opening.
Similar to a dental retainer, space maintainers can be either fixed or removable in the mouth. Even if using a space maintainer isn't always necessary, you should always speak with your dentist if your child loses a baby tooth before the time when the eruption of their permanent teeth should commence (usually starting around age 6).
Remember that baby teeth are only designed to be used for 5-10 years. Taking appropriate care of your child's main teeth is the greatest approach to prevent early tooth loss. Your newborn and young child will learn how to take care of their teeth for the rest of their lives if you help them develop appropriate oral hygiene practices.
Conclusion
Early newborn tooth loss can lead to dental health issues, which an orthodontist should evaluate as soon as possible. Interceptive orthodontic therapy may be required, depending on your child's age and the position of the prematurely lost tooth or teeth. Early tooth loss of an infant's teeth can cause the surrounding teeth to slip out of alignment.
Misaligned baby teeth can also result in misaligned adult teeth because the erupting baby teeth direct the permanent teeth into their correct places. Adult teeth that are crooked require orthodontic treatment to correct. Dealing with the issue when the baby tooth initially falls out is more simpler and less invasive than dealing with it after the permanent teeth have erupted unevenly.
Dr Amna Bilal
The author is a contributing writer at Dental News Pakistan and can be reached at amna0795@yahoo.com
