Children don’t grow adult teeth right away, because their mouths are simply too small. There are only 20 baby teeth, as children only have one molar and one premolar on either side, and they are smaller than adult teeth. Baby teeth, otherwise known as deciduous teeth, would take up very little space in an adult mouth. Naturally, we have to grow a new set of teeth by the time we reach adulthood.
Most of us are losing the last of our baby teeth by the time we are in our early teens, but some people have at least one remaining baby tooth, even as an adult. The question is, why do some adults still have a baby tooth?
The Adult Tooth may be Missing
Most commonly, the reason for a baby tooth to stick around is that there is no adult tooth to push it out. If an adult tooth is not present underneath the baby tooth, the baby tooth’s roots will not loosen.
The Baby Tooth may be Fused to the Bone
Sometimes, a baby tooth is still retained even if there is an adult tooth underneath. Usually, this is due to it being fused to the bone. This is called ankylosis. The baby tooth will not fall out on its own, and may cause an adult tooth to grow in beside the baby tooth, so that both are present.
If you have a baby tooth as an adult, brush and floss it more regularly than you would your adult teeth. Baby teeth were not meant to last long, and will fall out or develop problems more easily.
Because a baby tooth’s roots are too short to undergo our aligner treatment, make sure you get any baby teeth removed before making your impressions. If your x-rays show an impacted baby tooth, be sure to ask your dentist about aligner treatment, and please contact us about this before making your impressions.