Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

Anyone's child missing adult permanent teeth? If so, when was it discovered and what did your dentist first do when it was discovered?

My son is 7 and hasn't lost any teeth. He has several loose teeth that have been that way for 6 months plus (one has been loose over a year). At his dental checkup, they did routine x-rays and noticed 2 of his bottom permanent teeth are missing. It was hard to see which two from xrays. So he took another round and had a better idea what he thought was going on and said I should start planning for his dental future by seeing an ortho for a free consult. I wasn't happy with the consult as this issue was not addressed at all (among other things). She said he is missing 2 or possibly more teeth said xrays was unclear, he moved during the xray, still not sure which 2 are missing, etc. Come back in 6 mos. The dentist stopped me in the hall and told me he would like more xrays done as he seems more concerned.

While I know this is very common thing - I am trying to figure out what is the normal way this issue is addressed? Wait until they are older? How old? Shouldn't they want to see the whole picture clearly now as the baseline?

Message edited 8/6/2014 7:16:00 AM.

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I am in my mid thirties and I still have one baby tooth. It was discovered through X-ray when I was a child. None of my dentists have ever been able to give me an estimate of how long it will last. I remember early on one dentist said it could last one year, thirty, fifty or a lifetime. I am hopping it lasts a lifetime for both your child and myself.

Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I would cut out all the x-rays and just let it be. If the baby tooth falls out, then deal with it then. If it doesn't, then great!! Subjecting him to all these x-rays isn't really healthy, but that's just my own person opinion on them.

Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I would cut out all the x-rays and just let it be. If the baby tooth falls out, then deal with it then. If it doesn't, then great!! Subjecting him to all these x-rays isn't really healthy, but that's just my own person opinion on them.

Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I am missing adult teeth, as are all three of my brothers, and my two children. It's very common to run in families. Mine was not addressed, and at 44, I still have a baby tooth right smack next to my front tooth. The permanent tooth that was supposed to push it out is missing. If and when (and the dentist says it will) it falls out, I will have a large gap to deal with.

My daughter is missing that same tooth. So when they put her braces on at 9, they made sure to leave space in that spot for an implant. Since her braces are now off (had them off at 11, she is now 14) they have a flipper tooth in there to maintain the space because she can't get the implant until she's 18.

My son, on the other hand, is missing the same tooth on both sides. He is 11 and we are contemplating just pulling his teeth together and not getting any implants because at least his teeth would be uniform. He will likely be getting braces this year.

I would start planning now if you can what you will do given these teeth are missing. I wish my parents had, because this baby tooth right in front has no root and the dentist said one day it will just fall out. I dread that day.

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I have a baby tooth on the bottom front, it's just capped over. It's chips periodically (maybe twice in adulthood) and I go back and they do it again. I never had/needed braces, so I'm not sure if there was a better alternative. The only thing I can say, is that the big tooth on top of the baby tooth has shifted back a teensy bit because the fake tooth isn't as hard as a real tooth to prevent shifting. It's not noticeable at all though.

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I knew someone who had a full set of implants since he was a teen. He either has a no adult teeth of his own or very few. I would speak to a doctor who does the implants to see if that has to be part of your plan. I think you may need several opinions because there are probably a few different plans you can follow.

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I was missing two adult teeth, they were both molars on the side (teeth numbers 4 and 13). They didn't fall out until I was in my college years. At that point, I ended up getting implants for those two missing teeth.

I guess at that age, I would definitely be going for more consults. I can't see them doing anything to replace the permanent teeth just yet, because he's got a long way to go to have all permanent teeth in and such.

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

Thanks for most of the responses esp those who answered my question!

I know you can keep the baby teeth forever (my mom is in her 60's and still has a baby tooth as well) or as long as they last but he may have a few missing more than 2 and at least 2 for now are front and center which I think would look weird esp since he has very small baby teeth. (My other 2 have much larger baby teeth and the difference is very noticeable). It will definitely need to be addressed as his bite will be off if they stay. My dentist also thinks the way the teeth next to them are growing it may knock the baby teeth out on the way in and would mean a big gap. They are growing in on weird angle that it was even hard to tell which tooth it is - side or center (his side are very loose so I think side)! Still need to figure out how long I wait or do I see a new ortho to the start planning. I guess I will wait and see what gets knocked out. Poor kid just wants to loose a tooth and nothing is falling out!!!

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I never hung onto my baby teeth, but I am missing two adult teeth on the top I think the incisors. They just pushed all my teeth forward with braces and filed them down to look like they're supposed to.

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

I am missing one adult tooth. It runs in my family - my older sister is missing 3 teeth, my twin sister is missing one, and my cousin is missing at least one.

I don't remember a lot of details from when I was a kid , but I know I had a lot of teeth pulled and I had braces for a couple years. Once I was done with that, I was given a retainer that had a fake tooth on it. It held the space and helped keep my teeth straight until I was old enough for the next step - I think it's called a Maryland bridge? I think I got it around age 18 and I am now 37.

Re: Missing Permanent/Adult Teeth

Regular x-rays really wouldn't show it. They would need to do a panoramic scan and it would show all the teeth that are in his mouth, current baby and adult and even the direction of how they are growing in. They do those every 3-4 years according to my kids dentist. We were able to tell that one of his "I" teeth is coming in turned. That baby tooth fell out a long time ago but it still hasn't grown in, it looks like it is about to cut but it won't. He is going to see an orthodontist next week as a consult because they can push it down.

I would get another opinion.