Children start to lose their permanent teeth  usually around the age of 4  or 5.  The process continues for several years. It is usually a smooth process with the baby teeth falling off  and the permanent one growing into the vacated space. Sometimes a condition known  as shark teeth may occur. This is when the permanent ones come in while the baby teeth is still in place.

Shark teeth is used to describe the condition when a baby’s permanent teeth come in while the baby teeth are still in place. The permanent teeth simply grows  behind the baby teeth which is  in it’s way. As a result the child has 2 rows  of teeth. This condition is common with the lower incisors . However they can also happen when the upper incisors or primary molars grow in.

Shark teeth can come in at anytime. However they are more common during 2 periods in a child’s development. The first time is around age 6 when the lower front teeth usually grow in. The  second one is around 11  when the upper back molars appear.

What causes shark teeth ?

As children grow , the  permanent teeth usually  dissolve the root of the baby teeth.  Once the root is nearly gone, a baby tooth gets loose. The tooth falls out eventually. The process of falling out is usually accelerated by children wiggling  and pulling it . The permanent teeth then grows into the empty spot. In the case of the shark teeth, the root doesnt dissolve fast enough. As a result the baby teeth stays in place while the permanent teeth works its way up in the space behind it.

What should i do with shark teeth ?

This condition usually does not need treatment. The baby tooth usually gets progressively lose as the permanent  one comes  in. If the new tooth continues to grow and the baby teeth does not loosen, you should schedule an appointment with your child’s dentist.

Once the permanent teeth are completely in behind the baby teeth, there is nothing to dissolve the root and as a result the baby teeth stays in place.  The baby tooth can be removed   by extracting  it . The new tooth will typically moves  into the correct position once the obstruction  is gone. It can take a few weeks or even months to completely move into position.