A baby’s first tooth is an important milestone in their development and generally occurs around six to eight months of age. However, some babies may be born with teeth. These are known as natal teeth.
Appearance of teeth in newborns may be a cause of anxiety for the family. But, is there a real reason to fear? Why do teeth appear at birth and do they need medical attention?
In This Article
- What Is Natal Teeth?
- Is It Normal For A Baby To Be Born With Teeth?
- What Causes Natal Teeth?
- Where Do Natal Teeth Occur Generally?
- Types Of Natal Teeth
- Are There Any Risk Factors With Natal Teeth?
- How to Diagnose Natal Teeth?
- When Should You Seek Treatment?
- FAQ’s
What Is Natal Teeth?
Natal teeth refer to the teeth that are present at birth. They are also known as fetal teeth, congenital teeth, deciduous teeth, and precocious dentition.
These teeth may either be small or irregular in size and may be normal in shape or slightly conical; with a brownish-yellow or opaque white color (1).
Is It Normal For A Baby To Be Born With Teeth?
It is quite rare for babies to be born with teeth. According to some estimates, 1 out of every 1000 to 3000 babies is born with teeth at birth (2).
The chances of babies being born with teeth are higher than babies having neonatal teeth; which are teeth that grow within the first month of birth.
The chances of babies having natal teeth are thrice as high compared to the chance of developing neonatal teeth. Female babies have higher chances of having this condition than male babies (1A).
What Causes Natal Teeth?
Usually, the occurrence of natal teeth is not connected to any medical condition. At times, however, the development of these may be due to one of the following conditions
- Ellis-van Creveld syndrome
- Hallermann- Streiff syndrome
- Pierre-Robin Syndrome
- Soto Syndrome
Babies born with a cleft lip also have a higher probability of being born with teeth at birth (3).
The exact cause of developing these teeth is yet unknown. It is believed the teeth develop in a position closer to the gums.
Some other causative factors attributed to the development of teeth at birth (1B) may include
- Infections
- Malnutrition
- Exposure of the mother to environmental toxins
- Trauma
- Position of the tooth germ
Where Do Natal Teeth Occur Generally?
Most commonly, 85% of all natal teeth occur on the lower gum (mandibular), in the center – known as incisors; with 11% of them being upper incisors and just 3% being lower canines and molars which are around the lower jawline farther inside the mouth. That number is just 1% for their upper counterparts (1C).
Types Of Natal Teeth
There are several types of natal teeth according to the classification suggested by Spoug and Feasby in 1966 (1D). This is based on the degree of maturity of these teeth.
- Mature natal or neonatal tooth – nearly or fully developed with a good prognosis for maintenance.
- Immature natal or neonatal tooth- tooth with incomplete structure with poor prognosis
Furthermore, based on the way a natal tooth erupts in the oral cavity, it is classified into:
1. Shell-shaped Crown
- These teeth are poorly fixed to the alveolus by the gingival tissues.
- They do not have any roots.
2. Solid Crown
- These teeth are fixed to the alveolus with the help of gingival tissues.
- They teeth may or may not have roots.
3. Eruption of The Incisal Margin
Here only a small part of the tooth erupts through the gingival tissues.
4. Edema
- The natal tooth does not erupt but may develop only a mild, noticeable swelling of the gingival tissue.
- The unerupted tooth may be palpable.
Are There Any Risk Factors With Natal Teeth?
Following are some of the risk factors for being born with teeth.
1. Problems With Breastfeeding
As a mom who’s nursing, apprehensions always exist. Babies aren’t taught or conditioned to not bite while breastfeeding (4). This can be quite painful, especially in the beginning.
Unless removed, anxiety might cause you to switch to a breast pump and feed by the bottle.
There may also be ulcers to the nipple of the mother due to frequent friction between sharp teeth and the mother’s breast.
2. Ulcers On The Tongue
Chances of ulcers on the underside of the tongue for the baby exist if the tooth is sharp and constantly rubs along the underside of the tongue. This Is known as Riga-Fede syndrome (4A). The pediatrician or doctor may smoothen the tooth or teeth to help resolve the ulcer.
3. Choking Hazard
If natal teeth are underdeveloped, they could be loose and move about in the mouth. There are high chance such teeth could fall off and be swallowed and the risk of inhaling the tooth into the lungs via the airway is very high (4B).
How to Diagnose Natal Teeth?
Natal teeth can be easily diagnosed by a doctor by recording a detailed medical history of your baby and conducting a physical examination. A thorough clinical evaluation of your infant’s mouth can reveal the presence of tiny pearly whites. However, the dentist may advise a dental X-ray to get a more clear picture. X-rays can give a detailed image of erupted and unerupted teeth as well (1D). This helps them design an appropriate treatment plan for these types of teeth, if present.
When Should You Seek Treatment?
There is usually no need to worry or act unless the teeth interfere with feeding or could be a choking hazard if the teeth appear weak and wobbly.
Treatment is sought when symptoms such as a sore tongue or mouth are observed.
You will need to seek the advice of a pediatric dentist who will prescribe treatment after a thorough diagnosis, based on history, besides the physical examination of the baby, and radiograph imaging.
They may use the help of radiography or X-rays to ascertain the need for removal. The utmost effort may be exercised to avoid unnecessary trauma to the area. Thereafter, a periodic checkup is essential to avoid any complications and to ensure preventive dental care.
It is equally imperative that parent counseling takes place to create awareness of the management of teeth appearing at birth and also to play down any fears or myths parents may hold. Medical consultation and opinion, due and appropriate care, and timely treatment are sure ways of dealing with teeth at birth, and corresponding queries and concerns.
Natal teeth, though uncommon are not dangerous to babies. In case of an eruption of teeth, consult your pediatrician or a pediatric dentist who will decide the next course of action.
FAQ’s
1. What Does it Mean When Your Baby is Born With Teeth?
When your baby is born with teeth at birth, they are known as natal teeth. Every tooth, whether primary or permanent, has a fixed time of eruption. However, some babies may be born with teeth at birth which is normal, and nothing to worry about.
2. What Causes Babies to Teeth Early?
Babies may teeth early if they have a genetic predisposition, or it could be due to congenital conditions like Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, Pierre-Robin Syndrome, and Soto Syndrome. Certain risk factors like poor nutrition, maternal exposure to environmental toxins, trauma, and infections can increase your baby’s likelihood of developing natal teeth.
3. Should Natal Teeth be Removed?
A pediatric dentist will determine the best treatment for a natal tooth depending on whether it is causing any discomfort to the baby or interfering with breastfeeding. A natal tooth should likely be removed if it is weak and poses a choking hazard.
4. Why Are Some Babies Born With Teeth?
The precise cause of babies being born with teeth is unknown. It could be a result of genetics, infection, trauma, or malnutrition. Moreover, studies have proved that many infants with natal teeth had a positive family history.
References
- Natal teeth: Case report and review of literature – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3162856/]
- Natal teeth: a review. – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2595049/]
- Natal and Neonatal Teeth: A Case Report and Mecanistical Perspective – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7761990/]
- >Natal and Neonatal Teeth: An Overview of the Literature – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3759256/]
