Patient's question:
My child just started to have some baby teeth, which haven't fallen out yet, and they are interfering with the growth of new teeth. The permanent teeth are supposed to come in, but the baby teeth are still there. What should I do?Doctor's answer:
In such cases, it is important to take the child to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible and have the tooth extracted early. The permanent tooth has already erupted, and the retained deciduous tooth should be removed. The retained maxillary deciduous tooth must be removed as early as possible to prevent the development of permanent anterior crossbite. If anterior crossbite has already occurred, it is essential to closely monitor the situation and perform orthodontic correction as soon as the anterior teeth erupt. After the removal of a retained mandibular deciduous tooth, the permanent tooth behind it will naturally adjust to its normal position. If the teeth are crowded and misaligned due to this, it is advisable to wait and see. Orthodontic correction can be scheduled after the teeth have fully replaced, based on the condition of the dental arch.