Abnormal eruption occurs when the permanent teeth do not come through as they should.

In the field of dentistry and orthodontics, eruption refers to the process in which the teeth develop underneath the gum tissue and eventually move into a visible position in the mouth. Sometimes — and especially in cases where the normal spacing between the teeth is changed in some way — abnormal eruption can occur. This means that the tooth comes through the gum in the incorrect place, or is blocked from fully erupting through the gum tissue. Read on to find out more about this issue, and what can be done to resolve it…

When does abnormal eruption occur?  

Abnormal eruption can occur for a few different reasons. Usually, the issue occurs when the baby or primary teeth fall out and permanent teeth come in, which means that the problem often affects children.

If, for example, your child loses their baby teeth too early, the other teeth can shift in the mouth and affect the spacing between the teeth. Conversely, if the baby teeth fall out much later than normal, they can obstruct the eruption of the permanent teeth.

Other possible causes of abnormal eruption include having a particularly small jaw with inadequate space for all the permanent teeth to properly erupt; certain jaw and/or mouth injuries; and a condition known as hyperdontia, in which one has more permanent teeth than normal.

What are the treatment options?

If your child is suffering from an abnormal eruption, their orthodontist will be able to identify the issue during an examination. For this reason, it is advisable that you take your child for an early orthodontic assessment at around the age of seven years old.

There are a few ways in which an abnormal eruption can be resolved, and the course of action that is most appropriate for your child will depend on a number of factors, including the location of the abnormality and what is obstructing the eruption of the tooth. In some cases, a stubborn baby tooth may need to be extracted in order to make space for a permanent tooth to come through.

In some cases, early orthodontic treatment may be recommended for your child. Early intervention in the case of abnormal eruption can often prevent more complicated issues in the future. Sometimes, a simple solution such as a passive appliance may be enough to address the problem, while braces may be suitable in other cases.

It is important that abnormal eruptions are treated as soon as possible in order to prevent misalignments and bite-related problems down the line. If, however, you never had the opportunity to have early orthodontic treatment as a child, your orthodontist will be able to recommend a treatment plan for you to help you achieve a straighter, healthier smile as an adult.

How can we help?

At Straight Orthodontics, we encourage parents to bring their children in for an early orthodontic assessment at around the age of seven years old. This will give us the opportunity to identify any potential issues as soon as possible. We can then recommend a treatment plan that will reduce the severity of future problems and possibly even eliminate the need for orthodontic treatment down the line. Our team is available to answer any questions that you have and will provide you with all the information that you need to feel comfortable about the recommended treatment plan.

If you would like to find out about the early orthodontic treatments that we offer at Straight Orthodontics, please have a look here.

We also offer a comprehensive range of other orthodontic services, including conventional metal braces; ceramic braces; retainers; Invisalign; Spark Clear Aligners; and Teen Invisalign. To find out more about the full scope of what we do, please have a look here.

To book an appointment, please contact us here or give us a call on 03 9585 8000. We look forward to helping your child achieve a healthy and happy smile for life.