Double Teeth
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry STORY: DOUBLE TEETH SCRIPT #523 SHOOT: 7/17/03 AIRDATE: Monday, Sept.15, 2003 DHC Master #18 Timecode: 21:00
Monday, September 15, 2003
Parents often panic when they suddenly discover a strange but common dental problem in their children's mouths. Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry looks at the double trouble of two sets of teeth in today's Dental Health Check.
It's called ectopic eruption. It happens when permanent teeth erupt through gum tissue behind or in front of baby teeth.
Nancy Winship did a double take when she discovered the problem looking inside her daughter's mouth. 6 year old Nicole had two sets of lower incisors. "I just thought all baby teeth fell out. I didn't know the new teeth had anything to do with it," Nancy said.
Pediatric Dentist Dr. Bob Morgan tells parents NOT to panic. "Teeth behind teeth, ectopic eruption, is probably the number one Friday afternoon, oh my gosh, we've got an emergency. Those permanent teeth are looking for the path of least resistance. And if there is no room in a real small mouth, they'll turn sideways, mom's calling, saying, they look like a "v." But they'll knock the baby teeth out.
"But more often than not in an acutely crowded patient," Dr. Morgan continues, "they'll take that path of least resistance, which is lingual or towards the tongue. And since the permanent teeth aren't bumping into the baby teeth, the baby teeth roots don't dissolve."
X-rays of the teeth help the dentist decide if the baby teeth should be pulled.
"If we see on the x-rays that the baby teeth roots are pretty much dissolved and coming out, we'll send them home for a couple of weeks and let them come out by themselves," said Dr. Morgan.
Another common eruption pattern - canine teeth growing over the baby teeth.
"Often times, you see these kids come in with fangs. We talk about these two eye teeth. That's a form of ectopic eruption." With the baby teeth removed, the permanent teeth should move into the proper place.
Teeth behind teeth never requires emergency action. Once you notice the problem, make an appointment with your child's dentist for a thorough evaluation. For Baylor College of Dentistry, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center in Dallas, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
