Facts for Parents About Abnormal Teeth Growth

If you have any questions or concerns about how your child’s teeth are developing, schedule an appointment with us today. We strive to provide the highest quality of pediatric dental care in a comfortable environment.

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The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry

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kerubel G.

When we first visited The Dental Anesthesia Center, my child was experiencing severe tooth pain and multiple cavities. Dr. Sean M. Thoms and his team demonstrated excellent care, promptly assessing the situation and deciding to treat his teeth the next day. They came early in the morning, professionally addressing the cavities and placing a crown. They also followed up by phone to ensure my child was doing well. My baby is now pain-free,happy ,smiling, and sleeping soundly. This is truly a world-class dental center with an exceptional, caring team. Highly recommended.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and wonderful review! We’re truly grateful for your trust and so happy to hear your experience with our team was a positive one. It means a lot to know our care helped make things a little easier and brought smiles all around.

greg E.

Carrie and the Dental Anesthesia Center have always been very professional and welcoming when having work done.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear you’ve had a positive experience with our team. We appreciate your trust and support!

Whitney S.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr. Thoms. My 7-year-old, who has autism, recently had dental work done here and the experience exceeded expectations. The staff was incredibly kind, patient, and understanding of his needs. They took the time to make him and us feel comfortable, never rushed, and explained everything. I am so grateful for this office and the team that made my son's dental care possible. I would recommend The Dental Anesthesia Center and Dr Thoms to any parent, especially those with children who have special needs. They truly go above and beyond. ❤️

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and kind words! We’re truly grateful for your trust in our team and Dr. Thoms. Knowing your visit was a positive and comfortable experience means the world to us — it’s exactly what we strive for with every patient and family. 💙

Joy H.

Very patient with elderly patients. Very good experience.

Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your feedback! We’re pleased to know the visit was a positive experience.

Carla B.

My son has been a patient of Dr Michael Hoffman since he was 5 years old. He is now 21 years old. My son has diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and therefore I am cautious of who I select as a treatment provider. Dr. Hoffman’s office is professional, kind and I know they have his best interest at heart. I highly recommend Dr. Hoffman and staff to anyone seeking dental care.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation! We truly appreciate your trust in our team over the years.

As a parent, you always want what is best for your child. As you watch them grow and develop, you want to make sure they are growing and developing correctly. This is true when it comes to their teeth.

If you notice any teeth abnormalities as your child’s teeth develop, don’t be alarmed. Dental abnormalities, such as ectopic teeth, are relatively common. In fact, as many as 40% of people develop tooth abnormalities. Both genetic and environmental factors cause teeth to grow in abnormal ways.

Types of Abnormal Teeth Growth

When a tooth grows in the wrong place, it is called an ectopic tooth. Ectopic refers to an object or organ that is growing in an unusual place. When it comes to teeth, it can mean that a tooth erupted in an abnormal location, or it can mean that a tooth grew in the right place but is misaligned. An example of this would be a canine tooth that sits too high in the gum line or points outward.

Ectopic teeth can be detected with an x-ray, even before the teeth erupt. Most ectopic teeth do not cause issues and can be left alone. Others need to be watched as they grow in, as some misaligned teeth will self-correct.

Regular dental checkups for your child are important for many reasons. For children with ectopic teeth, it is important that their dentist monitor the development as ectopic teeth can lead to problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and misalignment of other teeth. As with other dental issues, the earlier ectopic teeth are treated, the easier treatment will be.

What Are Shark Teeth?

Have you heard the term “shark teeth” used? It is one type of ectopic teeth. Shark teeth occur when a permanent tooth grows in before the primary teeth fall out. It can be one or more than one tooth. But it creates a double row of teeth, just like that of a shark. It is more commonly seen with the incisors but can also occur with the molars.

As the permanent tooth starts to grow under the primary tooth, it dissolves the baby tooth’s roots, becomes loose, and then falls out. In theory, this makes space for the permanent tooth. However, sometimes that shark tooth will grow at an angle and will either not dissolve the baby tooth’s roots or grow straight once the baby tooth has fallen out.

Treatment of shark teeth depends on whether or not the permanent tooth moves into the correct position once the primary tooth falls out. If the permanent tooth has completely erupted, but the primary tooth does not fall out, this is typically resolved by extracting the primary tooth to create space for the permanent tooth.

St. Louis Pediatric Dentistry

If you have any questions or concerns about how your child’s teeth are developing, schedule an appointment with us today. We strive to provide the highest quality of pediatric dental care in a comfortable environment. We provide children with special needs comprehensive dental care in a safe setting.