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Dentistry/Toddler tooth came in split in 2.

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Expert: - 1/22/2006


Question
My 23 month old daughter had her tooth next to her front tooth come in at a normal time, but I noticed that it wasn't the same shape as the tooth on the other side, it was narrower.  Then, this month in between that 2nd tooth and the front tooth appeared a small sliver of a tooth that began to come in.  It is like the tooth was split up in the gums and came down in 2 pieces.  So she has what appears to be a skinny little extra tooth.  Is this common?  Have you ever seen/heard of this?  What should my concerns be and what will be my first steps to conquer this surprise tooth?  Thank you so much!

Answer
Dear Tammy,
not unusual at all. Many children have extra small teeth (especially in the top jaw).  When you take your daughter to a dentist sometime during the coming year
an x-ray will be taken to determine when is the best time to remove the extra (supernumerary ) tooth.
Dont worry about that either, since these extra teeth
are extremely easy to remove.
Dr. Moss

Dentistry

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Stephen J. Moss

Expertise

I am a professor emeritus at New York University, with a background that includes extensive research, scientific writing and biology. I also am an international consultant in health education, particularly in developing education on new science for health professionals and consumers. I am a past president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, former head of the NYU Division of Oral Biology and I represent the World Dental Federation at the United Nations. I travel around the world to provide health education to professionals and consumers.

Experience

Having retired from New York Universit, where I directed the pediatric dentistry training program, a walk-in dental clinic and research on oral biology, I formalized my professional and consumer health education initiative in the form of Health Education Enterprises. This entity consults and provides information on new science pertaining to oral and general health, particularly leading edge concepts that can be employed in the health professions to improve the public's health. As such, I am an expert in communicating new science and its usefulness to professional and lay audiences alike. I also had a pediatric dentistry practice in New York City for nearly 30 years.

Organizations
I am affiliated with the American Dental Association, the World Dental Federation, the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry among other formal organizations. My experience has included a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and work at the Forsythe Dental Research Center

Publications
lpha Omegan USA, Nowa Stomatologia Poland, Journal of Public Health Dentistry, The Journal of the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry USA, News Bulletin Japan, Journal of Marmara University Dental Faculty Turkey, Italian Journal of Paediatric Dentistry Italy, Asian Dentist Singapore, The Journal of the Israel Dental Association Israel, ROBRAC Brazil, Italian Journal of Paediatric Dentistry
Italy, FDI World, STOMA Portugal, Pediatric Dentistry The Philippines, Modern Stomatology Bulgaria, Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry India

Education/Credentials
I obtained a doctor of dental science (DDS) degree, a master of science degree and am a board certified pediatric dentist.

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