Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 11/27/2006

Question
My 2 year old had chipped 2 of her front teeth (one on each side of the front teeth next to the canine teeth and there are cavities present on both and on her front right tooth.  Is it normal procedure to put caps on these teeth or can the two chipped teeth be left to just fall out or be pulled out?

Answer
Dear Christy,

The answer depends on just how badly the teeth were damaged. Normally, the lateral incisors don't fall out until as late as 8 years of age, so your daughter may well need those teeth for another 6 years. Especially if there is active tooth decay on the teeth, they will become infected long before then, so simply leaving them in place is not a good strategy.

Removal of the teeth will avert infection, but fails to recognize that primary teeth function in the child much the same as permanent teeth function in the adult. So, salvage of these teeth is the optimal choice, assuming the teeth can realistically be saved. Conversely, attempts at salvage are ill-advised if the effort is not likely to be successful.

So, it is best to consult with your daughter's pediatric dentist in order to make a decision which both benefits her and is tempered by practicality.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY