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Natal teeth

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Fetal teeth; Neonatal teeth

Home 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.

Call your health care provider if:

• an infant with natal teeth that have been left in place develops a sore tongue or mouth.
• other symptoms develop.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

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.

• Review Date: 8/12/2005
• Reviewed By: Johanna Jacobs, D.D.S., General and Cosmetic Dentistry, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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