Permanent Tooth Coming in Behind Baby Tooth

Updated on January 17, 2011
C.C. asks from Parker, CO
20 answers

Hi all! I just noticed tonight that my son's first permanent tooth is growing in behind his baby tooth. His baby tooth is loose but not really loose. My son doesnt have any pain and there is no redness or swelling.

My dentist is out next week due to a family matter and I'm hoping to avoid the expense of an office visit.

Do you think it's alright to let the tooth come out in its own time or do you think he needs to see a dentist right away.

thanks!

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So What Happened?

thanks for the reassurance girls! I'lll call the dentist next week when he returns to office if it hasnt fallen out by then. I'm happy to hear that it will move forward once the baby tooth is gone!

by the way - what's the going rate from the Tooth Fairy these days? I was going to give him a quarter but my sis said I was being cheap! lol. She said I should give him one of those dollar coins. Not a bad idea - he wouldnt know where to spend it.

More Answers

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A.A.

answers from San Diego on

Yes, you have to see a dentist right away or when the tooth comes out the dentist is going to do surgery and will be very painful for your child.

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C.T.

answers from Salt Lake City on

This happened to me with two teeth when I was a kid. Don't panic...it is not an emergency. Just get into your dentist when you can. He/she might wait a while to see if the baby tooth gets loose on its own, or do what they did for me and pull it out. Either way, it's not that traumatic.

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B.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

C.,
This recently happened to my daughter with three of her teeth. I was hoping that they would eventually fall out, but the further her adult teeth came up the harder it seemed to be. Our dentist told her to start wiggling them to try to get them loose, which we didn't do very well. We finally had them extracted, $150 later. I would try to wiggle it to encourage it to come out on it's own and if it wont you should go get it extracted.
Good luck!

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K.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

The same thing happened to my daughter when her bottom teeth. I just let nature take its course and when the bottom teeth came out, the permanent ones moved somewhat into place. The only time I had to take her to the dentists to have a tooth removed is when she fell and hit her mouth on the fireplace. It killed the tooth and although it was very loose, because the nerve was dead, it would have never come out on its own. Just wait and see what happens. I wouldn't stress over it.

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C.

answers from Casper on

It is funny because we had the same thing at our house last week. I used the tooth numbing gel and we (child and I) worked on the tooth until it was more loose. When the tooth was ready we then reapplied the gel and pulled it out. She didn't feel a thing! Now we have to work on the other one! :) As a retired dental assistant I will tell you that the new tooth will eventually push the other one out if the old one is already loose. At this young age you don't need to worry about mis-allignment, just keep them both very clean. I do recomend getting the loose one out though. In some cases the dentist does need to get involved like if the tooth just will not come out for you. Trust your instinct!

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J.C.

answers from Casper on

We had that happening to my DS and took him to the dentist, because the teeth were semi loose but couldn't pull them out. They pulled them out and then the permenant teeth actually started to move into the position that they were supposed to be in in the first place. I would try and get the baby teeth out soon, to allow the new ones room to get into place and try and avoid a trip to the orthodontist for braces later. I would start by having your DS wiggle and worry the tooth as much as he can to see if you can't get it out before your dentist gets back and then if not, take him in.

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R.K.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Well, nothing life threatening will happen if you leave it be. You'll need to get your child braces later. I don't think your dentist will do much...he may pull the baby tooth but that perminant tooth will only move so much on it's own.

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

One of my daughter's has two teeth growing behind her front teeth. She's going to need braces!!! It'll be ok. Kinda sucks, but it'll be ok. She's still happy, fun, and not in pain.

I think you'll just be sharing the "boat" with me. ;o)

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C.M.

answers from Denver on

Hi C. -

My daughter, now 7, lost both bottom front teeth when she was 6. Both permanent teeth were coming in behind before the baby teeth came out. From what our dentist said, this is not unusual and it's okay to let it happen. After my daughter lost both baby teeth the permanent ones began to move forward. She recently lost both top front teeth and there is no sign of the permanent ones coming in, so all is well. I wouldn't spend extra money or time going to another dentist. C. M.

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D.S.

answers from Pueblo on

I had the exact same thing with my son. I took him to the dentist and they told me to wait and that the baby tooth would fall out and the tooth behind would move up to the front because his tongue would naturally push on it. I was really worried because the tooth growing in the back was really far back. After two or three more weeks the front tooth fell out and not long aftet the back tooth moved forward!

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D.S.

answers from Denver on

Get it checked out. It could cause bigger spacing issues later, and it may be that he actually has an extra set of teeth. IT does happen and is medically recorded. At least call the dentist.

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C.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hi C.. Not to worry, My 5 1/2 year old has both her big teeth coming in behind her baby teeth. We went to the Dentist last week for her 6 mo. check up and the Dentist said, It is very common. There is no need to have them pulled the big teeth should help push the baby teeth out. He did say you could help it along by wiggling the teeth a few times a day. He said he gets worried parents all the time. Not to worry, it is very normal.

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M.O.

answers from Denver on

That happened to me...multiple times. Sometimes I went to the dentist and got it pulled, sometimes I didn't. However I'd say to feed him lots of apples and corn on the cob, toast....anything that will help lossten the baby tooth. Also encourage him to wiggle it as much as possible. I wouldn't spend the money on the dentist for this. It'll be fine. Just work on getting it looser quicker at home. If either tooth starts to discolor, then you should take him in! Good luck!

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A.M.

answers from Denver on

My daughter has the same thing going on too, the dentist said to just keep an eye on it and if looks like its going to cause problems with any other teeth to bring her in or if she was in pain. But the dentist said it is perfectly normal.

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E.S.

answers from Denver on

All of my adult molars grew in before my baby molars had fallen out. I had two sets of teeth for a long time - a year or more? - before I finally had them yanked so I could get on with my orthodontic work in my early teens.

You probably want to have it checked out by a dentist, just to be sure it doesn't cause any long term crowding, but I wouldn't think that a few weeks is going to cause any problems. Just keep them both brushed!

Hope this helps!

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H.K.

answers from Grand Junction on

Hello, One of my little brother's friends had the same thing happen. All of his permanent teeth came in behind the baby teeth. Eventually the baby ones fell out. While he had two rows of teeth we called him the shark and he loved it. Learned a lot about sharks that year!

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S.L.

answers from Pueblo on

Dear C.,

I am a dental hygienist. Get your son to really wiggle that baby tooth and get it out. Permanent teeth sometimes do what you described. Get him to wiggle it while he is watching tv or when ever. He and you should be able to get it out on your own without the dental visit. Especially since you said that the tooth was a little loose.

tooth fairy.

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A.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hi C.!

I can't help but think that if it is already coming in, then it would not make a difference at this point as to pulling the baby one out or not. They've probably been lined up for quite a while now. I bet your primary care doctor could tell you a little about it and if something should be done right away or not. Just give your doctor's nurse a quick call tomorrow and see if they can give you an idea.

Good Luck!
A.
Director
Freedom United Team
www.OurFamilyTogether.info

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M.G.

answers from Fort Collins on

Hi C.,
We experienced the exact same thing with our son. Our dentist told us it is actually quite normal and not to mess with it. His baby tooth didn't fall out until his permanent tooth was almost completely in behind it. Amazingly, within a week or two, the permanent tooth magically moved into the right place on its own. No problems whatsoever. Hope that helps!

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M.R.

answers from Boise on

I agree with the other posters but you should know that if it needs to be pulled it can wait until your dentist gets back. My son had a tooth that the dentist insured us would come out as it was wiggly and the permanent tooth was starting to come in. Well we got busy and forgot. Six months later at his next check up it was still there. Ended up that there was a little hook on the molar that was preventing it from coming out on it's own. A quick procedure, the tooth was extracted and his permanent tooth came in right away. No permanent damage was done.

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D.K.

answers from Denver on

I would encourage him to continue wiggling it, that baby tooth needs to be out in order for the permenant one to come in well. My daughter had one like that and we had to take her to the dentist to have it pulled. If he keeps messing with it he will probably get it to where it will come out. I have had the weirdest teeth issues with my daughter! :) I don't think you need to rush him in, but try and get him to mess with it as much as possible.

The way it was explained to me is that the permanent tooth as it is coming up, helps dislocate the baby tooth, getting rid of the root attachment and that is why the baby tooth falls out so fast and before the permenant.
If the baby tooth is still attached and the permenant one is coming in it may need intervention as if there is attached too much! Good luck

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