I am wondering if I should take my son to the pediatric dentist if he loses another tooth. He is 7 yrs old and has lost 2 baby teeth this month. I am starting to worry that if he is going to continue to lose multiple teeth that something might be wrong. Am I over reacting or is this okay as long as the teeth that are lost are replaced with permanent teeth? Thank you. Danielle
Danielle – When a child loses a primary tooth naturally, generally there is no reason to see a pediatric dentist. If your child loses a tooth prematurely or from trauma, or if there appears to be unusual complications associated with the tooth loss, call your son’s pediatric dentist.
You might benefit from reviewing the Permanent Tooth Eruption Chart from the American Dental Association. It provides a diagram of the teeth and their numbers, and it shows when primary teeth are placed by permanent teeth.
As the chart shows, there are several permanent teeth that erupt between 6 and 7, and 7 and 8 years of age. Compare the teeth numbers on the chart with the teeth that your son has lost. This guide will help you determine if your son’s tooth loss is natural or if there might be an underlying problem.
At this point, it doesn’t seem necessary to contact your son’s pediatric dentist. But sometimes, peace of mind is the best resolution. You can decide if there are other circumstances that are causing your concern. Don’t hesitate to contact the dentist just to check for underlying problems with your son’s oral health. If there is a problem found, early treatment can prevent it from becoming worse.
This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.
