By contrast, when child jaws develop slowly (with no spaces between baby teeth), the developing adult tooth (crown) is located behind the baby tooth (Fig.4a).  As the adult tooth moves upward (Fig.4b,c), only the back portion of the baby tooth's root is being eaten (resorbed).  The baby tooth may be stable because of remaining root in the front part when the adult tooth has started to come into daylight.  Return to original text

Xin Wei, DDS, PhD, MS 1st edition 11/02/2011, last revision 11/02/2011