I am 23 years old and still have milk teeth, I am worried, what should I do?
Dear Sunita,
I’m 23 and I still have two milk teeth near the front of my mouth, I read your answer in response to a previous question regarding hypodontia and was wondering if I fall into this category?
Also, with only two milk teeth would I be entitled to dental implants on the NHS? The reason I ask is that one tooth is beginning to feel uncomfortable and as if it is escaping from the gum line, this is also making the upper teeth catch on it and I am very worried to bite on this tooth in case it just falls out!
My dentist has mentioned these milk teeth to me on many occasions and when I ask him what my options are, his answer is always the same ‘they may fall out in your 20s or your 50s, you will lose them eventually’. However my dentist has never mentioned the possibility of implants, even though I have mentioned the problems I have with them to him. Should I start looking for a new dentist? The issue is really depressing and is really affecting my life.
Thank you in advance for your answer!
Dear Enquirer,
In dentistry, hypodontia is the condition at which the patient has missing teeth as a result of their failure to develop. Hypodontia describes a situation where the patient is missing 6 teeth or fewer, excluding the 3rd molars, so the fact that you have retained milk teeth is not indicative of hypodontia.
You may lose your milk teeth in time, but this is something that your dentist will monitor regularly and there is nothing you can do to keep these teeth longer. They may become loose over time or they may stay strong within the jaw bone. You will need to see a specialist if you are considering implants, but they are not available under the NHS.
Regards,
Sunita
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