Managing the Situation of Deciduous Teeth Staying in Place During the Eruption of Permanent Teeth

Question

What should be done if a child’s deciduous teeth have not fallen out, causing the permanent teeth to fail to erupt normally?

Answer

If you notice that a child’s permanent teeth have started to erupt but the deciduous teeth have not yet fallen out, it is advisable to take the child to a hospital for a consultation and consider removing the retained deciduous teeth. Particularly, the retained deciduous teeth in the upper jaw should be removed as early as possible to prevent malocclusion. If malocclusion has already occurred, it is important to monitor it closely and start orthodontic treatment as soon as the incisors erupt. After the removal of a retained deciduous tooth in the lower jaw, the permanent teeth behind it usually adjust themselves to a normal position. If misalignment due to crowded teeth occurs, it should be observed until the teeth have been replaced, and then appropriate timing for orthodontic treatment should be selected based on the dental alignment situation.