Tooth Eruption, Shark’s Teeth & Down Syndrome!

Did you know that individuals with Down Syndrome often follow a slightly different pattern with their tooth eruption compared to their typical peers?

Not only as a baby does their tooth eruption tend to be slightly later than typically developing children, but it is more common that the teeth can come through in a completely different order - for instance, they may get molars first! Their teeth also may come through at an angle / sideways. 

This slightly different pattern of tooth eruption also translates later into their childhood, whereby they tend to lose their first wobbly baby teeth a little later than their peers. For some reason, children with Down Syndrome are also more likely to have what is referred to as ‘shark’s teeth’. This is where their milk/baby teeth don’t wobble out before their adult tooth grows through, but the adult tooth actually grows in a separate row to (usually behind) the milk teeth, and for a while the child can have both a baby tooth and an adult tooth for the same position. Usually the milk tooth wobbles out later on, by itself, but there are some occasions where it does end up needing to be removed by a dentist. The main challenge with shark’s teeth is proper cleaning, and being able to make sure that you are able to thoroughly brush the adult tooth whilst the milk tooth is still in the way. 

Ori is now 7 years old, and had her first wobbly tooth when she was 6 years old ... And sure enough, we noticed she also has adult teeth already erupting through behind it. Whilst this is more common in children with DS, it isn’t completely uncommon in typically developing children either - Oriana’s cousin had the same type of tooth eruption, and there are a lot of parents of children with DS who report that their little one’s typical sibling also has followed the same pattern! 

Even into adulthood, those with DS are more likely to have smaller teeth and gaps between them, and may even have some adult teeth completely missing and never growing through. It just shows that that extra chromosome woven throughout the DNA really can impact areas you may have given little thought to!