Empower
Ability
Inspire Advocate
Special
Needs
Potential Thri
Growth Strategies
— by Dr. Greg Grillo, Dentably.com
V
isiting a dentist can often
be a stressful experience,
especially for parents.
Most kids don’t like going to doctors and
dentists, and it can be especially difficult
for dental visits with children who have
Down syndrome. Even experienced
parents need some extra help from the
professionals when it comes to knowing
when their children are doing great and
when they need to see a doctor, and there
are often very different markers.
If you are a parent or guardian of
a baby with Down syndrome, then you
may have noticed that your baby’s teeth
aren’t growing in the way that dental
websites say they should. This is actu-
ally pretty common among children with
Down syndrome.
This article will help you learn ev-
erything you need to know about de-
layed tooth eruption among children
with Down syndrome. Hopefully, it will
put your mind at ease and help you dis-
cover when you should come see us and
when you’re okay.
When should teeth erupt?
The American Academy of Pediat-
rics maintains that a baby’s teeth should
begin erupting somewhere between 4
and 15 months old. Permanent teeth
generally arrive at around 6 years of age.
They recommend a dental trip if teeth
haven’t erupted by 1 month.
Children with Down syndrome will
experience delayed eruptions, so these
averages are not the same. Their teeth
may begin appearing later than average,
and although it is still a great idea to visit
16 WNY Family February 2020
Delayed Tooth Eruption:
Baby Teeth and Down Syndrome
your dentist to check in, it isn’t the same
cause for alarm as it would be otherwise.
For children with Down syndrome,
the first tooth will usually erupt at around
12 to 14 months of age instead, and it
can be as late as 24 months before the
first tooth appears. Also, in children with
Down syndrome, it is typical for them to
reach age 4 or 5 before their full set of
20 baby teeth grow in. Permanent front
teeth and 6-year molars may not appear
until your child is 8 or 9 years old, and
it is common to see them erupt in a dif-
ferent order.
Is it harmful for tooth
eruption to be delayed?
The good news is that delayed tooth
eruption in itself is not harmful. The de-
lay just means a little bit more time on
soft foods with toothless little grins.
Unfortunately, children who experi-
ence delayed tooth eruption may be at
a higher risk for other dental problems
later in their life. Keep in mind that nu-
tritional deficiencies and a lack of proper
oral hygiene have more to do with later
issues than when the teeth erupt, so fol-
lowing good oral healthcare routines
and regular dental visits will counteract
these risks.
Most of the causes of the increased
risk factors are not related to delayed
eruption of teeth. People with Down
syndrome experience these issues due to
medications that are high in sugar. Have
your child take something that contains
Xylitol before the sweet medicine to de-
crease the likelihood of dental decay.
Periodontal disease is common
among children with Down syndrome be-
cause of immune deficiencies, crowding,
and grinding teeth. You can avoid this by
maintaining a regular hygiene routine.
Their Teeth Finally Came
In… But They Don’t Look
Like Their Siblings’ Teeth
When teeth finally erupt in children
with Down syndrome, it can occasional-
ly alarm parents. You’re used to looking
at their siblings and comparing them, but
children with Down syndrome have dif-
ferent needs and developmental markers.
Children with Down syndrome may
have small or missing teeth when teeth
finally grow into their mouth. They are
also more likely to have yellow teeth
with weaker enamel. These are all pretty
common and don’t need to be too alarm-
ing. Check in with your dentist and they