Question:

I am 24 and I still have a baby tooth — it's one of my eye teeth and it really affects my self-confidence and the way I feel about my smile. My mother also had the same problem. X-rays showed that the adult tooth was still up in the gum so she had hers pulled out at 41, the adult tooth never came down and she was left with a gap.

I was wondering if a crown is able to go over the baby tooth to make it look like an adult tooth? Would it be strong enough to hold a crown? I have heard about people having the same problem and they would have to have chains attached to the adult tooth to pull it down. That option really doesn't sound good to me, I would be more embarrassed having a chain in my mouth than a baby tooth.

Is there anything that can be done to give me a nice smile or will I be stuck with this baby tooth forever?

Answer:

In many cases, porcelain or composite crowns for reshaping deciduous (baby) teeth are an ideal option, especially when the adult tooth is absent or impacted. In cases like this, the root for the baby tooth can remain stable for many years. Surely there is nothing to lose by trying this approach. And should the baby tooth eventually come loose and be lost, then there are various permanent options available for the replacement of the tooth if needed in the future.

I would recommend that you at least try having the tooth built up with composite bonding (white filling material), as this will provide you with a semi-permanent solution without much risk or investment.

For more information please visit Dr Angelo Lazaris's website.