When babies are born, are they born with teeth?
The teething process usually occurs for babies between 4 and 7 months although in some cases, it could be sooner or later. The first teeth that appear during this period are the incisors. Whilst this is the common pattern for the majority of newborn children, there are times when babies are born with teeth. These are known as natal teeth. This could cause concern or nervousness, but your doctor will be able to explain the occurrence to you.
Natal teeth can be caused by a few issues, such as cleft palates or lips and dentinThe part of the tooth that is beneath the enamel and cementum. irregularities. Dentin is the calcified tissue which makes up the tooth. In more serious circumstances natal teeth may be the result of malnutrition. Additionally, if your child is born with natal teeth then it is important to ask your doctor to check for any underlying issues such as Sotos, Hallerman-Streiff, Pierre Robbin and Ellis-van Creveld syndrome.
If you have family members who were born with natal teeth, this could contribute to your children also have them, and as a result, this may be something you want to disclose to a paediatrician before the birth, as they will be able to provide you with clinical insight and advice.
If you have any further questions regarding natal teeth please contact your dentist, and they will be more than happy to offer some guidance. This will include what natal teeth mean to your child’s future dental journey and how it could affect their teething timeline.
Please note that this article is for patient information purposes only. The information provided is based on guidance available at the time of writing, which may subsequently change. Please consult your own dentist with any individual queries.
Book an appointment