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Question:
My son is ten years old. His adult teeth are coming in crooked and many of his baby teeth are still in. Should they be removed? My dentist says to wait until they come out on their own. How long should I wait? Should all baby teeth be removed now?
Answer:
Your son's teeth coming in crooked is not a problem at this time. We can always correct this problem with orthodontics. At ten years of age, children usually have lost 10 teeth and have 10 to go. (This varies from patient to patient; but if this were textbook, this would be the case.)
I would not recommend removing any of his teeth at this time, let them come out on their own and then have him evaluated for braces. If he does not need any expansion or is not in a crossbite, we can wait until most of his permanent teeth are in before sending him for an orthodontic consultation.
Editorial Staff
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