tooth question (and no...this is not a how many? question)

Sunidaze

Any other gap tooth babies out there?  I see all the pictures of all of your LOs and I don't notice that any others have a visible gap between their two front teeth.  Stella does (which, by the way, I think just adds to her adorableness) but DH is concerned (and for the record, neither of us can think of anyone inf our families that have this).  Any of you in the dental field care to weigh in?

butterfly62682

Not a dentist but I have a gap between my two front teeth. Not a big one but it is visible. I have always loved it. It makes me just a little different from everyone else. But I am sure as all her teeth come in it will push those two teeth closer together.

Tell DH not to worry, it should be okay. And if not, there are always braces, right?

Sunidaze

butterfly62682:

Not a dentist but I have a gap between my two front teeth. Not a big one but it is visible. I have always loved it. It makes me just a little different from everyone else. But I am sure as all her teeth come in it will push those two teeth closer together.

Tell DH not to worry, it should be okay. And if not, there are always braces, right?

The braces part is his biggest concern.  The cost factor.  I try to tell him not to worry, especially as these are only baby teeth (and again, it just makes her even more adorable) but he can be a worrier.

aottone

Maya has a big gap in her front teeth. I am a bit worried also, but didn't know if it will close up some when her other teeth come in?  She only has the middle 2 on top right now. 

I thought I read somewhere that it may not be a bad thing, they will need more room for adult teeth anyway even though their jaws expand less chance of crowding.

butterfly62682

Sunidaze:

butterfly62682:

Not a dentist but I have a gap between my two front teeth. Not a big one but it is visible. I have always loved it. It makes me just a little different from everyone else. But I am sure as all her teeth come in it will push those two teeth closer together.

Tell DH not to worry, it should be okay. And if not, there are always braces, right?

The braces part is his biggest concern.  The cost factor.  I try to tell him not to worry, especially as these are only baby teeth (and again, it just makes her even more adorable) but he can be a worrier.

My DH is the same way. I don't think how the baby teeth are have any indication as to permanent teeth. But I am no dentist. 

nfrtny

What is worrying about it now going to help anyway? I had a space between my two front teeth all growing up, it closed when with my 6 and 12 year molars coming in.

amberpro

C has one. I'm not worried right now. I had to have braces, but DH didnt. Guess we'll see when his adult teeth come in.

jc&cat

Yes, DD has a fairly large gap between her teeth. I too am a little concerned but realize it likely will correct itself. She has her 15 month visit on Friday so i will raise it to the pedi. I was saying so to my Sisters In law and realize 2 of my 3 nieces had a gap in their teeth as toddlers, preschoolers. One had to get braces and the other never did and has a perfect smile. I watched niece and nephew go through the braces thing (and my brother and SIL paying!) and really, i would like to avoid that!

RingOfFire11

DD has a gap on top. My best friend (hygienist) told me it was a good thing. She said babies with gaps typically have more room when their adult teeth come in so they are usually straighter. Not sure if that's true but it sounded good to me.

klv

Dont worry about gaps now. It's better to have extra room than not enough.

My kid does not even have front teeth yet lol!

march2008

It's common to have the gap and doesn't mean that she will have it when her permanent teeth come in. Check out this article: 

https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/kids/gaps-in-baby-teeth1.htm

So what's the deal with all that space? "When a child's first teeth begin emerging from their gums, it's actually considered pretty normal for spaces to occur in baby teeth," says Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a pediatric dentist at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, adding that the gaps are found in about 40 percent of kids. This spacing does not cause problems -- in fact, these spaces are great. They give the permanent adult teeth room to grow in, and this is good news since it also means that the permanent adult teeth will likely not be crowded, helping alleviate the need for costly braces [source: Haugseth]. Still, some children do grow up with a noticeable amount of excess space between their adult teeth, though this is not very common. 

ElatedMom2B

march2008:

It's common to have the gap and doesn't mean that she will have it when her permanent teeth come in. Check out this article: 

https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/kids/gaps-in-baby-teeth1.htm

So what's the deal with all that space? "When a child's first teeth begin emerging from their gums, it's actually considered pretty normal for spaces to occur in baby teeth," says Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a pediatric dentist at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, adding that the gaps are found in about 40 percent of kids. This spacing does not cause problems -- in fact, these spaces are great. They give the permanent adult teeth room to grow in, and this is good news since it also means that the permanent adult teeth will likely not be crowded, helping alleviate the need for costly braces [source: Haugseth]. Still, some children do grow up with a noticeable amount of excess space between their adult teeth, though this is not very common. 

This.  DD#1 had a pretty big gap for a while - now that she's 4, the gap has decreased notably.  DD#2 also has a gap.  That being said, my DH and SIL have mentioned so many times that DH had horrible teeth as a baby - they were all over the place.  SIL had beautiful, straight baby teeth.  Well, DH has a gorgeous straight smile and never needed braces, SIL needed braces and wore them for almost 3 years.  She even had to get them a second time when she was in her late 20s.  I wouldn't start worrying about the teeth yet - unless, of course, they're not coming in or LO isn't able to chew, etc.

Sunidaze

march2008:

It's common to have the gap and doesn't mean that she will have it when her permanent teeth come in. Check out this article: 

https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/kids/gaps-in-baby-teeth1.htm

So what's the deal with all that space? "When a child's first teeth begin emerging from their gums, it's actually considered pretty normal for spaces to occur in baby teeth," says Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a pediatric dentist at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, adding that the gaps are found in about 40 percent of kids. This spacing does not cause problems -- in fact, these spaces are great. They give the permanent adult teeth room to grow in, and this is good news since it also means that the permanent adult teeth will likely not be crowded, helping alleviate the need for costly braces [source: Haugseth]. Still, some children do grow up with a noticeable amount of excess space between their adult teeth, though this is not very common. 

I wish I couold access FB from work...I would so love to share this article there!  That said, did I mention that I love the gap?

milesc

I worked for an Orthodontist for years- 

I always cringed when parents would brag on how great their LOs' baby teeth looked- 'They won't need braces like big brother/sister!' They'd say beaming... Which is quite the opposite.

You WANT space with your childs' baby teeth simply because when the adult teeth come in, they are much bigger and need that extra space so they don't crowd.

Spaces in the primary dentition is GOOD Enjoy that gap momma!