What are “Shark Teeth?” – A Dental Oddity
Posted on May 13th, 2021
Children’s Dental – Tinley Park and the Chicagoland Area
“Shark teeth” is a term that refers to the dental condition where children develop adult teeth behind their baby teeth. This creates a second row of teeth, rather than one row of primary teeth which is slowly replaced by emerging adult teeth.
The reason for shark teeth occurring in children is typically because adult teeth fail to erupt, or primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, fail to undergo resorption, or both. In each case, the primary teeth cannot and do not fall out like they should, which results in the adult teeth emerging behind them.
Shark teeth are most often seen in the bottom row of a child’s front teeth, but they can also occur in the upper row of teeth. Generally, they can occur anytime between the ages of six and twelve years old.
In cases where the primary teeth do become loose and fall out like they should, treatment is usually not necessary. However, when they do not, the adult teeth that are coming in improperly need to be addressed and their eruption must be aided. This is done by removing the primary teeth.
To gain a proper assessment of your child’s dental eruptions, they should see their pediatric dentist regularly. If they have the condition known as “shark teeth,” they may not need treatment, however, their teeth should be evaluated.
A Pediatric Dentist by Chicago and Tinley Park
If you are looking for reliable, professional kids pediatric dentistry in Tinley Park and Chicago, contact Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry today. We are here to help make sure your child’s smile stays bright and healthy for years to come.
