A "Great White" Smile: All You Need to Know about Shark Teeth in Children

If you've ever watched Jaws, then you probably know what a shark's teeth look like. Sharks have two rows of teeth. Humans have one row—or at least they should. Sometimes, however, children can develop what are known as "pediatric shark teeth". In short, they have two rows of teeth instead of one.

However, if you have noticed that your child's smile resembles that of a shark, don't worry. It's fairly simple to deal with.

The Causes of Pediatric Shark Teeth in Children

Also known as "ectopic eruption", this benign condition generally affects children of 5–7 years of age, a period where their baby teeth begin to make way for the adult teeth.

What usually happens is that the permanent teeth; beginning with the lower central incisors, absorb the roots of the baby teeth. This causes the baby teeth to fall out making room for the adult teeth to grow into.

However, in some cases, the roots of the baby teeth stick around for longer than they should, disturbing the natural order. This forces the incoming adult teeth to erupt behind the baby teeth, thus creating two rows. Young jaws are also small, and may not be sufficiently developed to accommodate the incoming adult teeth.

While it might be unnerving to see your child's mouth looking like that of a man-eating shark, a quick trip to the dentist should put your mind at ease.

Let Nature Take its Course

The lower central incisors are usually the first to be replaced by adult teeth. This means it is common to see pediatric shark teeth in the lower jaw, behind the two central incisors. There may also be two of them, side by side as teeth tend to come in pairs.

Most dentists will examine your child, before telling you to wait another two weeks. This is to allow nature the time it needs to rectify the situation. At some point during the two-week period, the baby teeth will likely fall out, leaving space for the adult teeth to move in.

Within a few weeks, the adult teeth should have moved forward into their rightful place.

Extraction for Late Cases

If after two weeks there has been no change, and the baby teeth are still firmly in place, your dentist will suggest extraction in order to make room for the permanent teeth. With the modern advances in dentistry today, the extraction procedure should be simple and virtually painless.

Disking is Another Option

"Disking" is an alternative option that is less invasive than extraction, but can achieve similar results. For this process, your dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from the baby teeth that are causing the obstruction. This will free up space for the adult teeth to move in, without the need for extraction.

At first, it may come as a shock to realize that your child has the grin of a shark. However, this is a minor dental issue and shouldn't require any extensive dental work. Check to see if the baby teeth are loose before booking a dental appointment. If they are loose enough to move, the teeth will probably come out on their own within a week or two. 

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