The baby root keeps dissolving
Even when the adult tooth is not directly underneath, its pressure usually loosens the baby tooth enough for it to fall out within weeks rather than months.
Children's teeth
Shark Teeth: When an Adult Tooth Comes In Behind a Baby Tooth
Seeing a second row of teeth behind your child's baby teeth is alarming, but it is common, especially with the lower front teeth. Often the baby tooth loosens and falls out on its own; sometimes it needs a little help.
- Examination before any extraction
- Children's dentistry from the first tooth
- Open daily 10:00–20:00
Tell us roughly when you first noticed the new tooth and whether the baby tooth is loose.
Quick answer
Why is my child's adult tooth growing behind the baby tooth?
An adult tooth growing behind a baby tooth, often called shark teeth, usually happens with the lower front teeth around ages five to seven, when the new tooth erupts before the baby tooth's root has fully dissolved. It is common. Often the baby tooth loosens and falls out within weeks and the tongue guides the adult tooth forward. At Creative Arts in Dubai we check whether to wait or to remove a firm baby tooth.
Who treats you here Dr. Duaa Ameen General Dentist · Dr. Julia General Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
What is happening
Why do adult teeth sometimes come in behind baby teeth?
Each adult front tooth develops in the jaw just behind and below the baby tooth it replaces. Normally, as the adult tooth rises, it dissolves the baby tooth's root from underneath, the baby tooth becomes wobbly and falls out, and the new tooth fills the gap. When the adult tooth takes a slightly different path, or the baby root dissolves slowly, the new tooth breaks through the gum behind the baby tooth instead of underneath it. For a while your child has two rows, which is where the nickname shark teeth comes from.
The lower front teeth are by far the most common place to see it, because the lower adult incisors naturally develop on the tongue side of the baby teeth. It usually appears between about five and seven years of age, when the first adult teeth arrive. Crowding plays a part too: the four lower adult incisors are wider than the baby teeth they replace, so they often come in slightly staggered until the jaw grows and the baby canines are lost.
It is not caused by anything you did, and it does not mean the teeth will stay crooked.
Wait or check?
Is it normal, or should the dentist see it?
Most cases sort themselves out. These patterns make a check worthwhile.
| What you see | Usually normal | Worth a dental check |
|---|---|---|
| The baby tooth | Loose, and getting looser week by week | Still firm a few weeks after the adult tooth appeared |
| Which teeth | Lower front teeth | Upper front teeth coming in behind, which can lock behind the lower teeth |
| Position of the new tooth | Slightly behind or turned, moving forward once the baby tooth is out | Still well behind the line several weeks after the baby tooth has gone |
| The gum | A little pink or tender around the erupting tooth | Swollen, very red, bleeding easily or tender to touch |
| Your child | Eating and sleeping normally | Avoiding chewing, complaining of pain or a bad taste |
Our baby teeth chart shows the usual ages for losing each baby tooth and the arrival of the adult teeth.
How it usually resolves
Will the adult tooth move forward by itself?
In most children, yes. Three things work in your child's favour.
The tongue pushes it forward
Once the baby tooth is gone, the tongue presses on the back of the new tooth many times a day and gradually guides it into the gap in front.
The jaw is still growing
Space in the front of the lower jaw increases as a child grows and as the baby canines are replaced, so mild staggering often improves on its own.
Wiggling helps
Encourage your child to wiggle the loose baby tooth with a clean finger or the tongue and to bite into soft foods. Do not pull a tooth that is not ready; our guide on wobbly baby teeth explains when to wait.
Options
Shark teeth treatment, from simplest to more involved
Most children need only the first row. The dentist decides after examining the teeth and, if necessary, taking an X-ray.
| Option | When it fits | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Watch and wait | The baby tooth is already loose and the adult tooth is coming through well | Home wiggling, normal chewing and a quick review if nothing changes in a few weeks |
| Review visit | The baby tooth is only slightly loose, or you are unsure | A short look at both teeth and the gum, and a clear plan for what to watch |
| Removing the baby tooth | The baby tooth is still firm after a few weeks, or the adult tooth is clearly being pushed off course | Numbing gel and local anaesthetic, then gentle removal; usually a short visit, with simple aftercare |
| X-ray | A tooth is not progressing, or one side is far behind the other | A low-dose image to check the root and the position of the adult tooth |
| Orthodontic assessment | Marked crowding after the baby tooth is out, or an upper tooth closing behind the lower teeth | A specialist check of the bite and space, usually around age seven |
For anxious children, our page on children's dentistry explains how visits are paced.
Upper teeth
What if an upper front tooth is coming in behind?
Upper adult incisors usually come in slightly in front of the baby teeth, so an upper tooth erupting behind is less common and worth checking sooner. The concern is the bite: if the new upper tooth comes down behind the lower front teeth, it can become locked there when your child closes, a pattern known as an anterior crossbite. This can wear the edges of the teeth and push a lower tooth forward.
When a crossbite is caught early, simple measures are sometimes enough, and an orthodontist can tell you whether anything is needed now or later. At Creative Arts, our specialist orthodontists carry out a children's orthodontic assessment, and our crossbite page explains how bites like this are corrected.
Book a check sooner if…
the baby tooth is still firm several weeks after the adult tooth appeared; an upper tooth is coming in behind; the gum around the teeth is swollen, bleeding or sore; your child has toothache or a bad taste; or a tooth on one side has not appeared long after its partner. The clinic is open daily, 10:00–20:00, but is not a 24-hour service. Facial swelling with fever, swelling spreading towards the eye or neck, or difficulty breathing or swallowing needs a hospital emergency department straight away.
At the clinic
What happens at a shark teeth visit?
A short, child-friendly visit; treatment only if needed.
A few questions
When you first saw the new tooth, whether the baby tooth has become looser, and whether your child has any pain.
StartA gentle look
The dentist checks how loose the baby tooth is, where the adult tooth sits and how the gum looks, counting teeth with your child.
A few minutesX-ray only if needed
If a tooth is not progressing or something does not add up, a low-dose image is taken to see the roots.
If neededA clear plan
Either a few more weeks of wiggling with a review date, or removal of the baby tooth, explained to you and to your child in simple words.
Same visit
Who treats you
Dentists who see children with shark teeth at Creative Arts
Dr. Duaa Ameen and Dr. Julia, General Dentists, check erupting teeth, remove baby teeth when needed and refer to our specialist orthodontists when the bite needs a closer look.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
How long can a baby tooth stay in once the adult tooth is behind it?
Many baby teeth loosen and fall out within a few weeks of the adult tooth appearing behind them. If the baby tooth is still firm after several weeks, or not getting looser, it is worth a check, because the dentist may recommend removing it so the adult tooth can move forward while the tongue can still guide it.
Will shark teeth straighten on their own after the baby tooth falls out?
Often yes. Once the baby tooth is out, tongue pressure usually moves the lower adult tooth forward into line over the following weeks and months. Some mild crowding of the lower front teeth is normal at this age and can improve as the jaw grows. Marked crowding is assessed by an orthodontist.
Does removing a baby tooth for shark teeth hurt?
The gum is numbed first, with a numbing gel and then local anaesthetic, so children usually feel pressure rather than pain. Because the root is often already partly dissolved, the tooth tends to come out quickly. Afterwards the area may be tender for a day, and simple aftercare is explained before you leave.
Can I pull my child's baby tooth myself if the adult tooth is behind it?
Only if it is very loose and comes out with almost no effort. Pulling a firm tooth hurts, can break the root and may make your child anxious about teeth. If it is not loose enough, let the dentist remove it under local anaesthetic instead.
Does my child need braces because of shark teeth?
Not usually. Shark teeth on their own are a common stage of losing baby teeth, and most resolve without treatment. An orthodontic assessment, typically around age seven, checks whether crowding or the bite needs anything later; for most children the answer is monitoring rather than early braces.
Why does my child have shark teeth on the bottom but not the top?
Lower adult front teeth develop on the tongue side of the baby teeth, so they naturally tend to come in behind when a baby tooth is slow to fall out. Upper adult front teeth usually develop slightly in front, which is why upper shark teeth are less common and checked sooner.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
ChildrenChildren's dentist in DubaiCalm first visits, prevention by risk and habit checks.GuideWobbly baby tooth: pull or wait?When to let it fall out and when the dentist should help.GuideBaby teeth chartTypical ages for baby teeth arriving and falling out.OrthodonticsChildren's orthodontic assessmentThe check around age seven for crowding and the bite.GuideChildren's dental careBrushing, diet and check-ups from the first tooth.
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One clinic, in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
Creative Arts has a single clinic on Jumeira Street (Jumeirah Beach Road). Ask about parking when you book.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursDaily 10:00–20:00, including Friday and Sunday
- Neighbouring areasJumeirah 1–3, Umm Suqeim 1–3, Al Wasl, Al Safa, Al Manara
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- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai · Our clinic in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
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