Pediatric Shark Teeth Treatment Options

The phenomenon known as pediatric shark teeth really isn't as scary as it sounds. It occurs when permanent teeth grow behind baby teeth. This occurs because the teeth choose the easier path to grow into. Because it effectively creates two rows of teeth, just like a shark's, it earned the name pediatric shark teeth.

Pediatric shark teeth most commonly occur to the front lower or upper teeth. This generally happens around the age of six. Some children to begin getting their permanent teeth before that, while others actually don't start getting permanent teeth until later -- sometimes as late as the age of eight. While less common, pediatric shark teeth can happen around incisors and molars as well.

Shark Teeth In Children - How It Happens

In some kids, the permanent teeth may not have enough room to fully emerge, and therefore seek out the space behind the baby teeth since there's adequate room. Because the adult teeth do not exert pressure on the baby teeth, it takes longer to dissolve the root of the baby tooth and this primary tooth may hold on for weeks or months longer than it should. When this happens, many children end up with a double row of teeth- baby teeth up front and larger adult teeth in the rear.

Treating Pediatric Shark Teeth

Normally, it is ideal to take your child to a dentist as soon as you notice shark teeth emerging. The dentist can evaluate if a larger problem exists and will determine if the permanent teeth will need more room than is allowed to develop normally.

If your child’s teeth are essentially okay, your dentist will most likely encourage your child to wiggle the baby tooth as much as possible to see if it will come out on its own in the next two to three weeks. If the tooth is still hanging on after three weeks, it may be time for the dentist to intervene.

The dentist can remove a stubborn baby tooth to allow the emerging permanent tooth to move into the correct position. Your child will naturally push on the displaced tooth with his or her tongue in the normal course of eating, talking, and probing to see what the new tooth feels like, helping it to move into the correct position.

If it appears that the emerging secondary tooth won't have enough room to develop normally even if the baby tooth is removed, the dentist may decide to slim down neighboring teeth with disking to make sufficient room. In addition, other baby teeth may be removed to make room for the secondary teeth as well.

If you're worried about pediatric shark teeth, simply schedule a consultation with your pediatric dentist. They can let you know if there's an issue, or whether they believe the shark teeth will resolve on their own, which many times they do.