Eruption of Extra Tooth

Jason is 6 years old when he first visits dental office.  His baby front teeth look normal (Fig.1 E, F), but routine X-ray exam shows that there is an extra tooth (Fig.2 *) between two adult front teeth (8,9).  The extra tooth is as sharp as vampire's.  Since the extra tooth is closer to the tooth #8, the latter grows downward slower than the other front tooth (#9).  Although not mandatory, it is the best to remove the extra tooth as early as possible so that the permanent front teeth can come out together.  But Jason's mom decides not to do anything.

Six months later, Jason returns, because he does not like a big gap between the two baby front teeth (Fig.3).  A tooth is making its appearance in the gap (*). 

X-ray shows that the new tooth is in fact the extra tooth (Fig.4 *).  While it grows (arrow), it pushes one of the baby teeth (E) downward and sideway.  To make thing worse, the extra tooth breaks the baby tooth into root (R) and crown (E).  The extra tooth still delays the permanent tooth #8 downward growth, as compared to the tooth #9.

Therefore the extra tooth and the broken baby tooth need to be extracted immediately (Fig.5).  In due time, the permanent front teeth are expected to erupt by themselves.

Xin Wei, DDS, PhD, MS 1st edition 06/18/2012, last revision 06/19/2012