[redbonec]

Our baby K now has 1 tooth on the bottom and 2 top teeth coming in. Her two top teeth have quite a gap between them. Is this normal?

[ourdreamcametru]

Our oldest son had this and the dentist told us that it was for the best later when they get their adult teeth because it would help them not be so crowded. Our son is fixing to turn 17 this Sunday and has the prettiest teeth ever so I guess it works!

[OnTheJourney]

redbonec, I swear our kiddos are doing things just the same lately! This has been the topic of conversation in our house for the last month since ds cut his top two teeth with a big gap. I happened to be in at our family doc, so I mentioned it and he chuckled and said "Madonna has a big gap and she's smart, rich and famous." So that was really no help!
I have heard everything (and some mixed opinions from professionals too): yes it is normal and as the rest come in they close the gap, it's normal for baby teeth then the mature teeth come in with out a gap and if there's a gap now there always will be one.
So I still really have no idea!
Just saw your post, ourdream, I like that answer!

[HBV]

H has a big gap, too. My neighbor's kids (5 & 2) both have gaps, my nephew had a gap, and my cousin's little girl (5) has a gap. I think it's pretty normal. I've heard the same thing about it being a good thing because then the adult teeth won't be so crowded. I hope that's right---both bparents have terribly crowded teeth---I've just been assuming an orthodontist was in our future.

[riverview]

as a dentist, gaps are great. less chance of cavities, tight teeth generally get food caught on kids! gaps also great b/c adult teeth are larger, less chance of ortho in the long run. Hope that helps!
remember : pea size toothpaste on the brush is all they need. can also dip the brush into ACT rinse and brush/has great flouride benefits to it!

[redbonec]

Jourey--funny, it is always the same!
Thanks Castle's mom--that is encouraging.
Riverview--thank you for the prof. advice! Good to know, and more at ease with the gap if it will be helpful in the long run.
HBV--I don't even want to know what orthodontists charge now!

[tinatyme]

I had a gap as a child until my adult teeth came in and my dentist always comments about how nice my teeth are. In my case, my adult teeth all came in and pushed my teeth together and no more gap and nice straight teeth. I also had few cavities and no wisdom teeth problems so your children might definitely have an advantage as far as teeth go with a gap in childhood!

[redbonec]

Thanks for the positive note.
THen last week, K's second bottom tooth started coming in--crooked! It is only her fourth tooth--how could it come in crooked?

I think we need to save for an orthodontist to be on the safe side...

[Barksum]

Baby teeth don't seem to be super indicators of how the adult teeth will come in. I thought for SURE my Dd's teeth would be crowded because her baby teeth were so close together. Didn't happen. The Ds with an under-bite had his jaw grow a bit and his under-bite now lines up exactly, with top and bottom teeth just meeting - but he doesn't have any adult teeth yet, so....

The kids all have varying degrees of straight/crooked, under/over bites, crowding/spaces and it seems to all be a crap shoot as to how the adult teeth will look and line up from what I can tell. You'll get a better idea when your kids start going to the dentist and get x-rays of their underlying adult teeth...but even THAT isn't a sure thing for how they will finally end up. Every child is one fall against the edge of the table away from no front teeth, anyway!

[tinatyme]

Originally Posted by Barksum

Every child is one fall against the edge of the table away from no front teeth, anyway!

So true! Many of the children in my family and friends children have had accidents where they have fallen and ended up losing a baby tooth prematurely or having it turn black (apparently because it was hit) and we have all been upset and then their adult teeth come in fine. They just might end up with a "missing tooth" hole for a little longer than their friends!

[Shai's Mom]

Originally Posted by redbonec

Thanks for the positive note.
THen last week, K's second bottom tooth started coming in--crooked! It is only her fourth tooth--how could it come in crooked?

I think we need to save for an orthodontist to be on the safe side...

My older son's second tooth also came in crooked. It straightened out, I was told from the normal tongue action.

He has spaces between his teeth and so does my younger son.

My daughter did too and she now has perfect teeth -without orthodontist.

[Withay]

My brother and sil had a neighbor babysit their daughter one day. When they returned home the neighbor came out and was obviously upset. He told them he didn't know how it happened because he and his wife were watching my niece the entire time, but she somehow knocked out her "middle" top tooth. My brother and sil laughed and told him that it was alright that my niece had a tooth sized gap between her upper teeth. Poor neighbor.