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What to Do If Your Child Loses Baby Teeth
The losing of baby teeth by your child is a normal and an inevitable process. It paves way for the growth of permanent teeth. Usually, they will continue falling out until the wisdom teeth are in, and this can take until he or she is anywhere between the age of 17 and 21.
Baby teeth have a variety of functions, but most importantly they play a significant role in the oral development of the child. Sometimes, your child might lose baby teeth earlier than expected. This can make the child vulnerable to orthodontic difficulties when he or she grows up. What should you do?
Baby teeth are valuable in the well-being of children. Apart from making the eating process easy, and holding space until the adult teeth erupt, the baby teeth, sometimes known as milk teeth, also enable them to speak properly. This is why it is essential to ensure that they are healthy and in place until they are mature enough to fall off on their own.
[ See: Beverly Hills Children Dentistry ]
When Baby Teeth Fall Out
Baby teeth can fall out prematurely for a number of reasons. Due to severe tooth decay, you dentist may extract the tooth. Other causes of premature tooth loss include:
- Accidents
- Metabolic disorders
- Problems with the immune system
- Blood diseases
- Defective enzymes at the cellular level
At What Age My Child Will Start Losing Teeth
The process of your child’s baby teeth loosening and falling out begins with a process known as resorption. The roots start breaking down as a result of the permanent teeth pushing against them. Most children at the age of 6 start loosing their baby teeth. The process will last for about 6 more years, which means by the age of 12, it is complete.
In some children, tooth loss may happen as early as 3 or even as late as 7. Generally, the earlier they sprout, the earlier they will naturally fall out. Usually, the baby teeth are lost according to the order in which they grew. The lower jaw central incisors are the first followed by their counterparts on the front jaw, then the lateral incisors follow. Next in line are the first molars, the canines, and the second molars.
What Should You Expect when your child loses a tooth?
It becomes a problem if a tooth is lost prematurely. Because they act as placeholders, the remaining teeth will try to fill the space before the permanent one is ready. The nearby baby teeth will try to fill the space, and when the right time for replacement comes, overcrowding is imminent.
Under the circumstances, it is important to notify a dentist as early as possible. The dentist will recommend an artificial plastic holder, a space maintainer, to secure it until the permanent tooth is ready. This simple process will save the child from orthodontic treatment, or even shorten it in future. The doctor will determine whether one is necessary and explain the appropriate appliance for your little one.
Notably, if the tooth is not replaced in the first three months, crowding isn’t the only possible cause. Apart from the above-mentioned causes, missing teeth, or that the permanent tooth ready to sprout is crooked and is not pushing out the right one above it. Consulting with a doctor will determine if any interceptive step is warranted.
Where to find a Children Dentist in Los Angeles
If you are worried about any of these problems, you can always set up an appointment with our Beverly Hills dentist, Bryce Vafa DDS, and let your child enjoy the benefits of a professional and experienced doctor specializing in dental growth and development. There could be nothing wrong with your child, but isn’t it better to have peace of mind than regretting later on? Don’t wait anymore, call us today!