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IMAGES IN NEONATAL MEDICINE
Natal and neonatal teeth
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  1. R Sureshkumar,
  2. A H McAulay
  1. Department of Paediatrics, Poole Hospital, Poole BH15 2JB, Dorset, UK; drrsuresh{at}aol.com

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/fn.87.3.F227

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    The incidence of natal and neonatal teeth varies from 1:1000 to 1:30 000.1 There are no reports in extreme preterm babies.

    A baby born at 24 weeks gestation in our neonatal unit had one natal tooth at the region of the lower central incisors (the most common site) (fig 1⇓). It fell out within two weeks without causing any complications.

    The teeth can be either a premature eruption of the normal teeth (up to 95%) or supernumerary (5%).2 The cause is not known. There are no reports in the literature about the actual occurrence of aspiration.1

    Natal teeth may be removed only if they are extremely mobile.2 Supernumerary teeth need extraction if confirmed by radiography.1

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Baby born at 24 weeks gestation with one natal tooth.

    References

    1. ↵
      Cunha R, Carrilho Boer F, Torriani DD, et al. Natal and neonatal teeth: review of literature. Pediatr Dent2001;23:158–62.
      OpenUrlPubMed
    2. ↵
      Kates G, Needleman H, Holmes LB, et al. Natal and neonatal teeth: a clinical study. J Am Dent Assoc1984;109;441–3.
      OpenUrlAbstract