Is it possible for a baby to be born with teeth, considering that typically teeth erupt months after birth? If so, how common is this phenomenon, what are the potential causes or genetic factors involved, and are there any risks or complications associated with a baby being born with teeth, both for the baby and the mother (e.g., breastfeeding difficulties, injury to the baby’s tongue or mother’s nipple)? What are the typical treatment options in such cases, and are they always necessary?
Answer
Yes, it is possible for a baby to be born with teeth. These are called natal teeth.
Details:
- Prevalence: Natal teeth are rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 2,000 to 3,000 births.
- Location: Natal teeth are most commonly located in the lower central incisor region, the area where the two bottom front teeth typically emerge.
- Appearance: Natal teeth may look like normal teeth, but they are often poorly formed, have weak roots, and are mobile.
-
Cause: The exact cause is often unknown, but several factors can be associated with natal teeth:
- Genetics: Natal teeth can run in families. If a parent or close relative was born with natal teeth, the baby has a higher chance of having them as well.
- Superficial positioning of the tooth germ: The tooth bud is close to the surface.
- Syndromes: In some cases, natal teeth are associated with certain rare syndromes, such as Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, Hallermann-Streiff syndrome, and Pierre Robin syndrome.
- Fever: Some theories suggest that fever during pregnancy may contribute.
- Nutritional deficiencies: Some believe that vitamin deficiencies are a contributor.
-
Complications: Natal teeth can cause the following problems:
- Feeding difficulties: The teeth may interfere with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
- Tongue ulceration: The sharp edges of the teeth can irritate and ulcerate the baby’s tongue (Riga-Fede disease).
- Maternal discomfort: During breastfeeding, the teeth can be painful for the mother.
- Aspiration risk: Loose teeth can potentially become dislodged and aspirated into the baby’s lungs.
-
Management: The management of natal teeth depends on their stability, the presence of complications, and the baby’s overall health. Options include:
- Observation: If the teeth are firm and do not cause problems, the doctor may recommend simply observing them.
- Smoothing: If the teeth have sharp edges that are irritating the tongue, the dentist may smooth the edges.
- Extraction: If the teeth are very loose, interfere with feeding, or pose a risk of aspiration, they may be extracted by a dentist or oral surgeon. The extraction is ideally delayed until after the first week of life to allow vitamin K dependent clotting factors to mature.
- Prognosis: In most cases, the underlying permanent teeth are not affected. The natal teeth are often premature versions of the primary (baby) teeth. However, sometimes, the natal tooth is an extra tooth. If the natal teeth are extracted, the baby will still develop their normal set of primary teeth later on.
- Neonatal teeth: Neonatal teeth are teeth that erupt during the first 30 days of life. They are managed similarly to natal teeth.