Natal and neonatal teeth refer to teeth that are present at birth or erupt within 30 days of birth. The incidence is estimated to be 1 in 1000 for natal teeth and 1 in 30,000 for neonatal teeth, with the majority being mandibular incisors. These premature teeth can cause issues with breastfeeding and tongue laceration. Radiographs are needed to assess root development and mobility. Teeth that are excessively mobile or interfering with breastfeeding should be removed to prevent aspiration risk and further trauma.

2. •Introduction
•Etiology
•Incidence
•Associated syndromes
•Radiographs
•Harmful effects
•Management
•Clinical Hint – Extracting Natal & Neonatal Teeth

3. -
Natal teeth
These are teeth
which are present
at birth

4. Neonatal
teeth
These are teeth
which erupt within
30 days of birth

5. E tiology –
Superficial position of tooth germ increased rate of
eruption due to –
(iii) Febrile incidence
(iv) Hormonal stimulation
(v) Heredity
Eruption could be depends on osteoclasitc activity with
area of the tooth germ.

6. ♦ Incidence –
♦ Incidence of Natal & Neonatal teeth has
been estimated to be 1:1000 & 1:30,000.
It is seen that 85% of natal or neonatal
Teeth are mandibular incisor.
♦ (1) 11% Maxillary incisor
♦ (2) 3% Mandibular cuspids
♦ (3) 1% Maxillary cuspids/molar

7. S yndromes as s ociated with pres ence of natl &
neonatal teeth
These teeth are reportedly associated with syndromes
like –
(iii) Chondroectodermal dysplasia
(iv) Hallermann – Streiff syndrome
(v) Ellis Van Crevald syndrome
(vi) Riga - Fede syndrome

8. ♦ Radiographs– A radiograph should be
made to determine the amount of Root
development and the relationship of
prematurely erupted teeth to its adjacent
teeth. One of the parents can hold the X-
ray film on the infants mouth during the
exposure.
♦ Most prematurely erupted teeth are
hyper mobile because of the limited root
development.

9. Harmful E ffects –
1- Laceration of the lingual surface of tongue.
2- Retained Natal/Neonatal teeth may cause
difficulties for a mother who wishes to breast-feed her
infant. If breast-feeding is too painful for the mother
initially the use of breast pump and storing the milk
are recommended.
Management–
1- The most important point to consider is whether the
nursing mother can adequately establish breast
feeding. If there is traumatization of the nipple or if the
ventral surface of the infant’s tongue is traumatized,
then the tooth should be removed.

10. 2- If the tooth is not too mobile then it should be
retained as it can become firm with time as the root
continues to develop.
2. If tooth is excessively mobile, because of the
theoretical risk of aspiration or ingestion it should
be electively removed.
3. If tooth removal is indicated, care should be taken
to extract the entire tooth as the crown only may be
removed leaving behind the pulpal tissue ; if this
happens, dentin and root will form ; the root will
then require removal at a later date.
4. The permanent teeth should be unaffected by
extraction of primary tooth.

11. C linical Hint–
Extracting Natal & Neonatal Teeth
1- When removing these teeth always protect the
airways by placing a gauze on the back of the mouth ;
they are easily dislodged or dropped. A pair of Spencer
wells forceps or similar will provide a firm grip on the
tooth to be removed.
2. Check the medical history for significant jaundice
which may predispose to post operative bleeding.