Apparently, my kid takes after my brother and is growing in teeth at an alarming rate. At exactly 13 months, he is currently simultaneously sprouting teeth #12-16, his fang teeth. He already has 4 across the front + a set of molars. I think it may be time for a dental visit. I’m concerned that he may end up in a situation like my brother, who had several baby teeth pulled and had his upper jaw broken to stretch it enough to accomendate his other teeth.
So…how does one find a pediatric dentist? Do they even see toddlers this young?
Do they still break upper jaws and put it that rack-shaped device that requires daily turning with a key to widen the jaw? If so, is there anything that can be done to avoid this fate?
Also, is it possible my child is in fact a shark, and will continue to grow rows and rows of sharp nippy teeth, leaving us without sleep or peace for the rest of our days?
It’s a little early for his canines to erupt, but not alarmingly so. Tooth eruption chart is here. True story, so consider yourself lucky - I used to do childcare for toddlers. One child had ALL his canines and molars come in during one week. Some teeth were late, some very early. Poor kid. Other than a week of discomfort, drooling and practically gumming his little fingertips off, there were no problems. Eruption is a good word for what happened in his mouth.
You can find a pedodontist in the phone directory, through the local dental organization or on the ADA website. Or just ask your dentist for a referral.
Yes, palatal expanders are still in use. They are being used in younger children to create room and avoid surgery and extractions. Some of the newer ones are made of nickel titanium (memory wire) and do not require a key.
My daughter had a palatal expander (about five years ago), and they certainly did not break her upper jaw to put it in. The point of doing it while she was young, in fact, was to expand the palate before it ossified. It wasn’t bad, overall, and her mouth is far better for it, since it cured her severe underbite and gave her teeth enough room that none had to be removed when she got her braces. Pediatric dentistry (and orthodontia) has come a long way in the past 20 years, believe me.