Baby Tooth not Getting Wobbly

[full-time-mum]

DD1 (nearly 12) went to the dentist. She still has one baby tooth left and the dentist decided that she should get it checked by the orthodontist as it isn't showing any signs of getting wobbly. She said "It may need a bit of a helping hand".

DD is beside herself not knowing what this means - anyone any ideas?

I didn't ask at the time as I didn't know whether the answer would make things worse! DD was worked up enough about the X-ray they did despite reassurance from both the health professionals and me. She was shaking like a leaf!

It could be nothing.

[maria340]

My sister and my 21 year old step-son still have baby teeth as does his mum. I think its quite common. So it may not need to come out at all.
I think it will only have to come out if it is causing an obstruction to the adult tooth if it is coming through. It may need to come out to prvent other problems depending on where it is.
I had a brace for 3 years which I hated. My mum kept saying' you'll be glad of nice teeth when you're grown up'. Of course she was right.
I hope this helps
Good Luck

[jackieb]

My daughter is 12 (and was at the dentist today as it happens.) She has a very crowded mouth, and she's had some adult teeth come through before her baby teeth had fallen out. They were a bit wobbly for months and months. The dentist told her just to play with it and try to loosen it by herself (which she wouldn't!) But if your daughter's tooth isn't loose then she can't do that. :)
Because my daughter will eventually need a brace, she will need to have about 4 perfectly good teeth removed to make room. The dentist said today that she's going to refer her to the orthodontist. She thinks she's a little young for a brace yet, and the orthodontist might want to wait until her bottom jaw grows a bit yet.

Sorry for rambling, but the orthodontist might not do anything unless it's causing an obstruction (like Maria has already said :) ).

[Penny Watcher]

I'm not a dentist (obviously :rolleyes: :D), but wouldn't the x-ray show whether or not there was an adult tooth waiting in the gum above the baby tooth?

I think DD1(25) still has one of her baby teeth. She swears blind it never fell out to be replaced by the adult one.

Orthodontists can do marvelous things these days.

[whatatwit]

Your dentist may be asking the orthodontist to look if the adult tooth is likely to come through at a funny angle or in the wrong place if the baby tooth stays put.
Or, if the other adult teeth will move to fill the gap left by the baby tooth.

It sounds as though your dentist is trying to avoid future problems that may occur if they just whip out the baby tooth.

[geekgirl]

My son had 7 milk teeth removed when he was 15 ready to have his brace fitted. The roots of the teeth had not yet dissolved so it was the same as pulling any other rooted tooth. He was fine and now his braces have been removed and his teeth are really looking good.

[gerad way]

I wouldn't worry too much about milk teeth, I am 38 and have only ever got 5 of my second teeth. My milk teeth are still all intact although a little smaller than the others. My 2 children have exactly the same problem as me.
So if your daughter has no second tooth waiting in the gum to come down I would ask for it to be left.:p

[Skint_Catt]

The problem is exactly as said above - it depends if there's an adult tooth trying to come through (possibly not if its not making the baby tooth wobbly, but if there was tghere's a risk that it might come through the gum at a funny angle then have to be corrected by brace. They sound very proactive and are looking for problems BEFORE they arise unlike my current dentist (but thats another story :mad:).

Nothing to worry about at all. If you can do anything at all to reassure your daughter then please please do so. I was fine with the dentist when I was young as Mum was so confident, but as an adult I have had bad experiences with bad dentists which has resulted in me becoming a nervous patient - to the point that for two easy extractions last Friday I had to be put under General Anaesthetic!

[full-time-mum]

Thanks for all your replies.

I am obviously trying to be confident and positive but I had bad experiences as a child and recently one as an adult (didn't dare complain in case I got struck off the list and couldn't find another NHS dentist). I'm playing it down saying its probably nothing to worry about and they are just being cautious.

[Toothsmith]

DD1 (nearly 12) went to the dentist. She still has one baby tooth left and the dentist decided that she should get it checked by the orthodontist as it isn't showing any signs of getting wobbly. She said "It may need a bit of a helping hand".

DD is beside herself not knowing what this means - anyone any ideas?

I didn't ask at the time as I didn't know whether the answer would make things worse! DD was worked up enough about the X-ray they did despite reassurance from both the health professionals and me. She was shaking like a leaf!

It could be nothing.


I saw this thread when it came up, but didn't reply as you'd had several good replies anyway, and I didn't really know which issues to address first.

Has your daughter ever had any bad experiences? Either dental or medical?

If not, why was she "shaking like a leaf" at x-rays?

I'm just worried that you're being a bit too reassuring, and scaring her to death as she picks up your fears!! Adults only say " it won't hurt" just before something hurts!! Kids know this, they can also sense when Mum is terrified, and they pick up those fears.

It would probably be best if you took your kids to the dentist at a time when you didn't have to see the dentist, then you would be a little more calm and relaxed.

Maybe even take the kids to a different dentist to you so that it's a completely different environment for them.

Are you still taking your kids to the dentist where you had the bad experience just because it's NHS?

What does that do to everybodies stress levels?

What was the thing that was a bad experience?

Having a baby tooth out to make room for an adult tooth is a simple straightforward proceedure that any dentist should easily be able to coax a 12 yr old through. (If indeed having it out is necessary).

But then, an X-ray is even easier.

I would have a good look at the mother/daughter/dentist interactions and be prepared to make some changes. Either to the dentist, or the person that takes her to the appointments, or both.

But maybe start with the dentist - especially if it's the one with whom you had the bad experience.

I must say though, from what you've written, it sounds like the dentist has done everything right so far.

Good luck.

[SoozyJ22]

This thread's been really interesting to read - it's good to see I'm not alone. I'm 30 and still have two baby teeth (the ones next to my front teeth) as I don't have the corresponding adult teeth. My brother had the same thing but with just one tooth so had the baby tooth taken out and has had a false tooth since he was 16 or 17 - you'd never know it's fake to look at him. I did have the two baby teeth next to the ones I have left removed by the dentist as their adult teeth got stuck and I needeed orthodontic work to get them into place. I was worried about having those teeth removed, but it was all straightforward and very quick - the worst bit was the sound it made when they came out - I didn't feel a thing though.