Impacted Tooth in 4 Year Old?

First, this is not an impacted tooth unless the dentist says it is. I suggest you not borrow trouble. You have enough to deal with as it is.

Second, children with developmental delays tend to chew on things. It helps to keep them calm. I suggest you substitute soft toys for the hard cards. You can google stores for sensory issues and find specific items geared towards sensory issues.

My grandson chews gum, even at school, which is a help.

later BTW: Many sensory issues are not readily visible. Many of my grandson's issues were unknown until he was in occupational therapy.

Like others have said he has a full set of adult teeth below the gum line, that is normal and not effecting him at all.

My younger son has some sensory issues. Not the mouthing everything one but if I had to take a stab it it it is a sensory issue. See if whole raw carrots do it for him. What you need to find is a more appropriate object that will still stimulate him in the way he needs.

Like, under his baby tooth? Isn't that pretty much true of everyone and every tooth before the baby teeth fall out?
I mean, we're born with all of our teeth and the baby teeth fall out as the permanent teeth push forward.
Or is this in an area without a baby tooth?
Sorry--confused. :(

I personally have a full grown adult tooth that never came in that just floats around in the roof of my mouth (called a floating cuspid) and personally I would have never even known it was there except for the x-ray. There is no pressure or irritation or anything else that would make me aware that it is not where it is supposed to be.

I am assuming that the tooth is not really affecting your son at all, unless of course it is ready to cut through and then just like all teething babies he would probably chew more. Honestly, I don't know, I just can't really see how the 2 would be directly related unless the tooth is starting to cut through.

Good Luck

You know what? I remember having a discussion with our pediatric dentist about my granddaughters first dental x-rays. I asked what the tiny little balls were under her teeth. He told me they would eventually grow to be her permanent teeth. She was over 3 years old and they were not "full grown" so I think that may not be correct.

God forbid that this pisses someone off but I do not really think little kids have full grown teeth under their baby teeth normally. The teeth fall out around the time they enter school and the teeth that come in are larger but still not full grown.

I think that the space in a pre-schoolers face/jaw bone area is limited and this may well be the cause he chews on stuff.

I would make SURE that this is a pediatric dentist and NOT a family dentist who thinks he is good with pre-schoolers. There is a world of difference.