Natal teeth
Alternative Names
Fetal teethHome Care
If the teeth are not removed, keep them clean by gently wiping the gums and teeth with a clean, damp cloth. Examine the infant's gums and tongue frequently to make sure the teeth are not causing injury.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your doctor if an infant with natal teeth develops a sore tongue or mouth or other symptoms.
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Documenting natal teeth in detail may include the following questions:
- Were any other family members born with teeth? Did they later develop any problems?
- Are any other symptoms present?
Note: This finding is usually discovered by the health care provider during the initial examination of the infant, and often no further documentation is needed other than just to note that there were teeth present at birth.
The physical examination will include thorough examination of the mouth, and dental X-rays may be considered. If there are signs of any condition that can be associated with natal teeth, examination and testing for that condition will be performed.
Note: Most often natal teeth occur as an isolated incident.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by
URAC, also known as the American
Accreditation HealthCare Commission. URAC's accreditation program is
the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and
accountability, verified by independent audit.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2005 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.