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Most adults have long forgotten the day their last baby tooth came out, but for Emily Cheeseman of England, it was like yesterday. That’s because Cheeseman just "lost" her six front baby teeth at age 28.
According to a story on Dentristry.co.uk, Cheeseman was born with hypodontia, a condition where a number of adult teeth don’t develop. In Cheeseman’s case, not only did her permanent teeth not come in, her six front baby teeth stayed put. She recently had those baby teeth removed in order to make room for new dental implants.
“There are surprisingly large numbers of people walking around with baby teeth,” says New York dentist Dr. Michael Sinkin. “I can think of half a dozen patients in my practice who have lower baby molars. Although six baby teeth in front is unusual.”
Baby teeth usually appear at around five or six months, with all 20 baby teeth usually showing up by age 2 ½. By five, the first permanent tooth comes in with most permanent teeth (with the exception of wisdom teeth) arriving at around age 12 or 13.
In most cases, the permanent tooth’s arrival heralds the demise of the baby tooth (not to mention the arrival of the tooth fairy). But if a permanent tooth doesn’t come in, Sinkin says it’s not unusual for a baby tooth to stick around.
“If the permanent tooth doesn’t develop then oftentimes, the baby tooth’s roots don’t resorb (or dissolve),” he says. “It’s very common, if they’re missing the permanent tooth, for the baby teeth to stay.”
Although Cheeseman opted to have her six front baby teeth extracted and replaced with dental implants, Sinkin says it’s actually feasible for an adult to keep a baby tooth his or her whole life.
“If a root doesn’t resorb, [the tooth] could last a person’s lifetime,” he says. “I have a 72-year-old woman who currently needs a crown on a baby tooth because of decay. She doesn’t have a permanent tooth there.”
Although hypodontia is nothing to worry about, “as long as you’re under the care of a dentist,” Sinkin says there is a chance it could be associated with certain genetic conditions (according to a 2008 study, hypodentia may also be a risk marker for epithelial ovarian cancer).
As for which teeth will likely shortchange come tooth fairy time, experts say wisdom teeth are the most common permanent teeth not to develop; after that, it’s the upper lateral incisors, the teeth on either side of your two front teeth.
“If you look at early pictures of David Bowie, you’ll see his eye teeth where the lateral incisors should be,” he says. “He subsequently had a bit of dentistry done.”
Do you still have some of your baby teeth? Or know someone who does? Tell us about it in the comments.
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I still have a lower left baby molar that doctor's told me would probably fall out by the time I was thirty. I turned 30 this month, and it is still in place. The weird thing about my story is that I do not have a permanent tooth underneath this baby tooth. When my mother was pregnant with me, during the middle of her pregnancy, she developed a tooth that grew in on the roof of her mouth. This tooth never showed up on previous xrays, she just started having pain behind her front teeth and when she went to the dentist they were shocked to see another tooth erupting in her mouth. I always blame her for stealing my tooth! I told her when and if this baby tooth ever does fall out, she will have to reimburse me for the fix. It disappoints me that dental insurance won't cover sitautions like this, because I too will be paying out of pocket for a cosmetic implant when/if this tooth does go. I think it is a shame that they consider this cosmetic when it was a genetic condition that caused the problem.
I still have my "eye" teeth that are babies...my perminent ones were removed, in my freshman year of high school, they were growing across the roof of my mouth. I am 48.
I still have my baby "eye" teeth. My adult ones were growing across the roof of my mouth and were surgically removed my freshman year in high school...I am 48.
There are many people like us (I lost a baby tooth at age 32) but sadly, we receive no public support. We are humble people, walking amongst people like yourselves, in quiet neighborhoods, sizzling cafes and local car dealerships. We do not smile to hide the gap in our mouths and in our hearts. Those who understand our plight are urged to take action now. What can you do? stop smiling until we are united.
I finally got a baby tooth pulled 4 years ago at age 50. It was a top inscisor and the replacement was lying sideways in the gum. Never came down. Still have to get an implant there. The dentist had no idea how much money the tooth fairy should leave me- with inflation and all.
My son has six missing adult teeth. 2 are his front bottom teeth which he has never lost. He is 16 and has been in braces for 2 years ..... facing implants or bridges for missing upper teeth when his jaw is done growing anywhere from age 18 to 21. A long any expensive journey. I appreciate every tooth I have now... realizing what others have to go through.
Another person mentioned that her kids would also have to wait for implants but she didn't say how long. 18 to 21 is quite a spread; I was wondering if dentists have a way of determining if a jaw is done growing or whether they just wait until 21 to be sure.
I decided to have my teeth straightened at age 39. The overcrowding of all my teeth prevented my permanent left canine from pushing out my baby tooth. I had to have it extracted so as to give my permanent tooth room to move into place. It turned into a major ordeal with several surgeries to get the tooth into place, a skin graft, and a root canal to save the tooth itself (after infectin deteriorated the jaw). I'm now 42 yrs old and still have the braces. It's been a long road, but I'll be happy when I have the straight teeth that I've always desired. My advise is to have this type of thing done at as young an age as possible. There are less complications. I'm so glad that my permanent tooth was there to come in. I don't relish the idea of an implant. They are more expensive than braces to boot!
My daughter 's baby teeth did not fall out when her permanent teeth came in. Needless to say her mouth was very crowded. After waiting awhile, it was determined that the roots weren't going to dissolve so she had 13 baby teeth removed. Luckily she was already under the care of her orthodontist because some permanent teeth had to be pulled out from the gums. Every thing has worked out fine and she will be getting her braces off next month.
I have a sister that is 20 years old and a sister that is 7 years old that both have the same problem, missing the exact same tooth. The front bottom one on the right side. My older sister just had an implant put in a few weeks ago. My younger sister has the same habits (sleeping, grinding teeth, walking, etc.) and they look a lot alike. Could this possibly be genetic? My older sister and an older sister that is 21 just got their wisdom teeth pulled. The doctor said it was the hardest set of teeth he had to pull. He actually had to break part of their jaw to get into the mouth and chisel the teeth out. I have two teeth fused together, that I lost together, and grew out together. Is all of this genetic? MY parents had the same problem with the wisdom teeth, and my father has an implant. Once more I shall ask: is this genetic?
I have David Bowie teeth! 52 years old and never had them fixed. It makes for interesting conversation. My dentist always told me it wasn't that unusual, but I'm not sure I believed him until now. Thanks for the article!
Thank God, the mystery is finally solved! you see when I was 22 I had to have the two teeth on either side of my 2 front teeth removed because they were loose and the dentist called them"milk" teeth. I had to get a partial bridge and I've felt abnormal all these years(i'm 47) not knowing why my adult set never grew in at all. It's good to finally know that it is quite common. I now plan on trading in my partial bridge for 4 dental implants and smiling like there is no tommorrow. :0)
I know a young man who has most his baby teeth. only his two front teeth are adult so he looks rather like a rabbit with his teeth for pronounced but again, it is considered cosmetic which is ridiculous. So this young man has to endure his misfortune.
Nice to know that I am not as extreme of an abnormality as I thought. As a kintergardener I had my front teeth knocked out in a run-in with play ground tires. Six year later I still had no adult front teeth coming in. Dentist could see the buds up there and reassured me that they would come in on there own. In the 7th grade they finally noticed not only that the buds were not doing any thing, but there were two sets not doing anything- so yes, 4 permanent front teeth on top!- a couple of surgeries later and some braces to pull down the set they kpet, I had front teeth, but no roots....they thus had to be bonded to my other teeth. These were very brittle and by time I was 29 they were pretty much a patch work of fixes. I have since had implants down and love them, they are expensive (had to sell my truck to pay for it) but well worth it.
I also have an extrapremolar on the lowerleft and an upper one that is fully turned around....dentists have had all kinds of fun with my teeth!
JLSAGE - in addition to the missing teeth I noted in my post, I also have a backwards tooth on the top lol
I still have my first molars on top and bottom. I am also missing my lateral incisors, one of the middle teeth on the bottom, and my wisdom teeth. I recently took my 6 year old to the dentist for his first set of xrays, only to find out he has the same condition also. He is missing numerous random adult teeth as well.
I have 4 children. My 11 year old has 11 missing permanent teeth and my 10 year old has 16 missing permanent teeth. The 10 year old never got his top incisors, even as baby teeth. My husband had 13 missing teeth and two of his other siblings had a bunch missing, too. It comes from his dad's side. No other stuff aside from the missing teeth. We are trying to save as many of their baby teeth as possible and eventually replace them with implants. We don't have dental insurance, so I know it will be very expensive. We have been working with an orthodontist to get their teeth ready. I am praying that my younger ones will have all their permanent teeth.
My canine teeth on top, both left and right, are baby teeth. Nobody had noticed this until just a couple of years ago! The permanent teeth can be seen in x-rays, they are lying sideways above the gum line. No pain, just "anti-fangs" ;-) I'd make a lousy vampire, lol! FWIW, I'll be 45 next month. Oh, and my wisdom teeth never came in, either. No impaction, but no room in my mouth for them.
I have two Baby teeth on the bottom jaw. The adult teeth never developed, and consequently, the baby teeth did grow into permanent teeth. They wanted to pull them, but I saw no need, because there was nothing to fill in the gap, and insurance does not pay for implants. Each time I see a new dentist, they always comment,,,"Awww,,,look at your baby teeth". One of them even has a root canal and a cap that is holding on strong,,,,,not bad for 45 years old!
I'm 22 and I still have 4 baby teeth, all of my incisors. My bottom teeth are very crooked, and one of my adult teeth has tried to come in but is stuck behind one of my baby teeth. My top teeth are reasonably straight, I just don't have any sharp pointy teeth. The dentist is trying to convince me to get them all pulled and braces to make everything pretty, but I don't see any reason to yet. I want to know if Obamacare is going to pass or not.
I never got my two lower bicuspids nor any of my wisdom teeth. Had Maryland bridges for a few years because the baby teeth didn't last, then had those removed for braces. I just use my retainer to maintain the spacing. I don't wanna sell a kidney to get two implants either hahah. By the way, I'll bet if you have to have the baby teeth removed for some "problem" the insurance may pay for the bridge. They did mine but that was a long time ago.
I lost my last baby tooth in my 30's, it was a front molar. Dentist just popped it out. No tooth underneath so I now wear a bridge. Oh, and I don't have wisdom teeth either.
..of England? Her adult teeth were probably afraid of not getting brushed.
I'm 53 and still have one one the lower left front. Grandma had 2 that lasted her 85 years.
I have four permanent baby teeth still at 38, and they are healthy, have not had any cavaties in them, and from what the dentist says I am likely to keep them for a long long time. I also did not have any wisdom teeth, but did have two extra sets of permanent molars which are still in place and according to my dentist are not showing signs of wanting to come out. Who knows maybe if the baby teeth eventually fall out they may be able to pull the molars forward to replace them.
I will now mention the Ovarian Cancer link to my OBGYN as I do have a history of it in my family but I have yearly well woman exams and nothing has been detected yet. Of course now days and you can pick up a piece of paper and there's a likelyhood of somehow it being linked to cancer (not that this is true, but i'm sure someone has done a study on it).
My twins were done with ALL their baby teeth by 10. They don't have all their adult teeth yet, but their baby teeth are gone. Their dentist calls them "precocious."
My daughter still had her primary incisors at 15. Ortho work had them pulled and we waited and waited for the secondary ones to appear. Over a year later they came down with ortho assistance. She hopefully will be done with braces in 6-8 months. We can already tell her smile is beautiful!