Has your child's baby teeth not fallen out yet? It could be a case of prolonged tooth retention.
In our clinic we are seeing more and more cases of children who, past the usual age, They haven't lost their baby teeth. This phenomenon is known as prolonged retention and it can have various consequences if it is not treated in time.
What is prolonged retention of baby teeth?
We're talking about dental retention when, once the normal age of eruption has been exceeded (between 6 and 12 years), The permanent teeth do not emerge correctly because the baby teeth have not fallen out.. This causes permanent teeth to grow behind or in inappropriate positions.
⚠️ What consequences could this have?
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Malposition of the permanent teeth
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Occlusion problems
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Maxillofacial developmental discrepancies
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Need for more complex orthodontic treatments
Most common treatments for impacted teeth
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Surgical extraction (especially in third molars)
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Surgical traction (frequently used on canines and incisors)
The The average age for the start of tooth replacement is 6 years., Therefore, any significant delay should be evaluated by a pediatric dentist.
Does lack of chewing have an effect?
Yes! One of the factors that most influences tooth retention is poor chewing in childhood. More and more children are eating soft and processed foods, which It reduces the stimulus needed for teeth to loosen and fall out naturally..
Many young children barely chew: They ingest food directly without jaw effort., This weakens the development of facial muscles and delays the process of tooth replacement.
✅ Recommendations to promote the natural shedding of baby teeth:
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Introduce solid foods gradually into the diet
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Teach them to chew slowly: at least 20 times per bite
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Avoid over-chopping or mashing food
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Schedule regular checkups with a pediatric dentist
⚕️ At Midsa Dentistry, we care for your child's oral development
We evaluate cases on a personalized basis. Child's dental retainer And we help you promote healthy habits from home. Prevention and timely follow-up are key to avoiding complications.
