Missing a Tooth.....

Thought I would comment on this since I went through this with my daughter. She turned 3 last October, and just started getting her last eye tooth in January. We were told at her 3 year check up that it didn't even feel like there was a tooth up there. Our pediatrician told us that we could take her to a pediatric dentist and have it x-rayed, but if she is missing that tooth, then there isn't anything can do for her right now. So we opted to wait it out, and surprise, it eventually came. Just be patient, as I said, they can't do anything if he is actually missing the tooth until they are older.

You could try taking him in for the x-ray, anyway. Sometimes my 2 year old really suprises me and proves my thinking wrong! Besides, in my experience, pediatric dentists seem to know how to handle squiggly 2 year olds! The worst case scenerio might be you end up going but not successfully getting an x-ray...but at least you've tried!

Not to worry about the missing tooth but at age TWO your child is more than ready for a dental visit. We recommend the first checkup within 6 months of getting a first tooth. A "happy visit" is not traumatic, allows the child to become comfortable with the dentist and also give us a chance to address and problems/concerns before they become a problem.

As for xrays at this age, not a problem. The one required to look for a front missing tooth is called an occlusal film. The child simply bites on a flat film like a cracker and snap! that's it. Often the child can sit in your lap and you both will wear the apron.

Good luck and I hope your child's first visit is fun, informative and cavity free! G. (5 weeks from graduating dental school!)

Find a good pediatric dentist. Mine I would have SWORE would have not sat for an xray, but both have and the key is do not go back with your son. Actually my six year old does not have one tooth on the bottom, which is going to work out as she has a very tiny jawline and needed more space. She did get the baby tooth but when she lost it there isn't a permanent one to take it's place. It may just be coming in later, have you counted his teeth? They still have two year molars and six year molars (six year are permenant).

I would ask around in your family--it may be genetic. My friend's father and brother both have a baby tooth that never fell out, and I guess it runs in their family. Something as minor as a missing tooth may not be something that your grandma, aunts, uncles, etc., would think to mention unless you ask.