Baby Teeth That Aren’t Falling Out: How Your Dentist Can Help

If all goes well, the baby teeth naturally fall out because their roots have been reabsorbed into the gums.  It is only the crown of the tooth baby tooth that falls out.  As the adult teeth grow in and prepare to break the gum surface, they initiate a re-absorption of the baby teeth roots.  Sometimes the adult tooth, as it grows in, misses the baby tooth’s root and therefore does not trigger the breakdown of the baby tooth’s root.  The result can be two sets of teeth with the adult tooth growing in next to the baby tooth. 

In this case, the baby tooth may need to be extracted to make room for the adult tooth coming in.  The primary molars or baby molars have two to three roots and in some cases the adult tooth will only spur the re-absorption of only one of the roots.  The remaining roots of the baby molar will cause the tooth to remain in place, trapping the adult tooth in the jawbone.  In this case, dental assistance is very important so that the baby molar can be removed in time, allowing the adult molar to grow in properly, without complications. 

Usually around age five, your dentist will take a panoramic x-ray to view the position of both the baby teeth and the adult teeth.  This allows your dentist to prevent complications and anticipate problems.