Can a tooth grow behind another?
Olivia Hensley
Updated on March 12, 2026
If your child has a tooth growing in behind another tooth, don't panic. It's a relatively common occurrence in children, and although it can look scary, it's easy to treat and there are not usually ongoing problems.
What happens when a tooth grows behind another?
How do Permanent Teeth Come in Behind Baby Teeth? When a permanent tooth is growing behind baby teeth, it reabsorbs the baby tooth's roots, which then causes it to become loose and ultimately fall out. The permanent tooth then takes the place of the baby tooth.What is it called when you have a tooth behind another?
A mesiodens is an extra tooth that's located behind or between your two front teeth. When left untreated, it can lead to dental complications.Why is my tooth growing behind?
Usually the permanent tooth grows directly below the baby tooth causing the baby tooth's root to shrink making it effectively “rootless” so that it falls out. If this does not happen the baby tooth will not get “pushed out” so the permanent tooth will grow up behind forming what appears to be a second row of teeth.What causes double teeth?
There are two causes of this condition: germination and fusion. Gemination occurs when one tooth splits into two, but they remain attached to each other and develop together. If the geminated teeth are counted as one tooth, there are a normal number of teeth.Can a tooth grow behind another tooth? - Dr. Raju Srinivas
Can 2 teeth grow in the same spot?
An extra tooth may begin growing between the two front permanent teeth of an older child. Two peg-shaped teeth may form behind a child's top incisors. An entire extra mouthful of tooth buds can grow alongside a child's actual teeth. These are examples of a condition called hyperdontia.How rare is a double tooth?
Although the prevalence rate is variable in individual reports, the overall prevalence appears to be approximately 0.5% in the deciduous teeth and 0.1% in the permanent dentition.How do you treat overlapping teeth?
Here are some of the most popular treatment options for overlapping teeth.
- Braces. Traditional braces, which use metal brackets, wires, and elastic bands to correct your teeth, are often the first line of defense for overlapping teeth. ...
- Clear aligners. ...
- Veneers. ...
- Tooth extraction or surgery.