Dental Management in Natal and Neonatal Teeth
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33192/smj.v78i1.274841Keywords:
Newborn, premature eruption, natal teeth, retain, extractAbstract
The premature eruption of teeth in newborns is categorized as natal teeth, which are present at birth, and neonatal teeth, which appear within the first month of life. Natal teeth are about three times more common, with 90-99% being normal primary teeth and 1-10% supernumerary. The exact causes are unclear. These teeth often appear small, conical, or similar to normal teeth. They are usually located in the lower central incisor region and often paired. This literature review aims to provide dental management for the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of natal and neonatal teeth. Diagnosis relies on clinical examinations and may involve radiographic evaluation for supernumerary teeth. These teeth can lead to complications such as tooth mobility, raising concerns about aspiration, sublingual ulcerations (Riga-Fede disease), and nipple lacerations during breastfeeding. Since most of these teeth are normal primary teeth, they should be retained with periodic monitoring. Extraction is only indicated if a tooth is extremely mobile and poses a risk of aspiration, or if ulcerations affect the child’s ability to suck effectively, particularly in conjunction with the use of a nasoalveolar molding appliance in children with cleft lip and palate.
References
Mhaske S, Yuwanati MB, Mhaske A, Ragavendra R, Kamath K, Saawarn S. Natal and neonatal teeth: an overview of the literature. ISRN Pediatr. 2013;2013:956269.
Chandler C, Silva Junior M, Solano M, Azevedo I. Management of Neonatal Teeth: Two Case Reports. Inter Ped Dent Open Acc J. 2020;4:283-7.
Anton E, Doroftei B, Grab D, Forna N, Tomida M, Nicolaiciuc OS, et al. Natal and Neonatal Teeth: A Case Report and Mecanistical Perspective. Healthcare (Basel). 2020;8(4):539.
Markou I, Kana A, Arhakis A. Natal and Neonatal Teeth: A Review of the Literature. Balk J Stom. 2012;16:132-40.
Seminario AL, Ivančaková R. Natal and neonatal teeth. Acta Medica (Hradec Králové). 2004;47(4):229-33.
Massler M, Savara BS. Natal and neonatal teeth; a review of 24 cases reported in the literature. J Pediatr. 1950;36(3):349-59.
Khandelwal V, Nayak UA, Nayak PA, Bafna Y. Management of an infant having natal teeth. BMJ Case Rep. 2013;2013:bcr2013010049.
Dyment H, Anderson R, Humphrey J, Chase I. Residual neonatal teeth: a case report. J Can Dent Assoc. 2005;71(6):394-7.
Zhu J, King D. Natal and neonatal teeth. ASDC J Dent Child. 1995;62(2):123-8.
Vitali FC, Santos PS, Massignan C, Cardoso M, Maia LC, Paiva SM, et al. Worldwide prevalence of natal and neonatal teeth: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2023;154(10):910-21.e4.
Cunha RF, Boer FA, Torriani DD, Frossard WT. Natal and neonatal teeth: review of the literature. Pediatr Dent. 2001;23(2):158-62.
Kates GA, Needleman HL, Holmes LB. Natal and neonatal teeth: a clinical study. J Am Dent Assoc. 1984;109(3):441-3.
Leung AK, Robson WL. Natal teeth: a review. J Natl Med Assoc 2006;98(2):226-8.
Anegundi RT, Sudha R, Kaveri H, Sadanand K. Natal and neonatal teeth: a report of four cases. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2002;20(3):86-92.
Samuel SS, Ross BJ, Rebekah G, Koshy S. Natal and Neonatal Teeth: A Tertiary Care Experience. Contemp Clin Dent. 2018;9(2):218-22.
de Almeida CM, Gomide MR. Prevalence of natal/neonatal teeth in cleft lip and palate infants. Cleft Palate Craniofac J. 1996;33(4):297-9.
Baghdadi ZD. Riga-Fede disease: report of a case and review. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2001;25(3):209-13.
Roberts MW, Vann WF, Jr., Jewson LG, Jacoway JR, Simon AR. Two natal maxillary molars. Report of a case. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1992;73(5):543-5.
Gautam U, Phuyal R, Sapkota A, Chikanbanjar VK. Multiple Neonatal Teeth in a Preterm Neonate: A Case Report. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2021;59(244):1323-5.
Alvarez MP, Crespi PV, Shanske AL. Natal molars in Pfeiffer syndrome type 3: a case report. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 1993;18(1):21-4.
Gladen BC, Taylor JS, Wu YC, Ragan NB, Rogan WJ, Hsu CC. Dermatological findings in children exposed transplacentally to heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls in Taiwan. Br J Dermatol. 1990;122(6):799-808.
Miller RW. Congenital PCB poisoning: a reevaluation. Environ Health Perspect. 1985;60:211-4.
Alaluusua S, Kiviranta H, Leppäniemi A, Hölttä P, Lukinmaa PL, Lope L, et al. Natal and neonatal teeth in relation to environmental toxicants. Pediatr Res. 2002;52(5):652-5.
Galassi MS, Santos-Pinto L, Ramalho LT. Natal maxillary primary molars: case report. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2004;29(1):41-4.
Varriano BM, Ades L, Vaughan SR. Case Report: A rare case of bilateral molar natal teeth in a term newborn. Front Dent Med. 2024;5:1336865.
Wongsirichat N, Mahardawi B, Manosudprasit M, Manosudprasit A, Wongsirichat N. The Prevalence of Cleft Lip and Palate and Their Effect on Growth and Development: A Narrative Review. Siriraj Med J. 2022;74(11):819–27.
Masatomi Y, Abe K, Ooshima T. Unusual multiple natal teeth: case report. Pediatr Dent. 1991;13(3):170-2.
Gonçalves FA, Birman EG, Sugaya NN, Melo AM. Natal teeth: review of the literature and report of an unusual case. Braz Dent J. 1998;9(1):53-6.
Portela M, Damasceno L, Primo L. Unusual case of multiple natal teeth. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2004;29(1):37-9.
Jasmin JR, Clergeau-Guerithault S. A scanning electron microscopic study of the enamel of neonatal teeth. J Biol Buccale. 1991;19(4):309-14.
Uzamis M, Olmez S, Ozturk H, Celik H. Clinical and ultrastructural study of natal and neonatal teeth. J Clin Pediatr Dent. 1999;23(3):173-7.
Friend GW, Mincer HH, Carruth KR, Jones JE. Natal primary molar: case report. Pediatr Dent. 1991;13(3):173-5.
Merglova V, Hauer L, Broukal Z, Dort J, Koberova Ivancakova R. General and oral health status of preterm one-year-old very low and extremely low birthweight infants (a cross - sectional study). Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub. 2021;165(2):209-15.
van Heerden W, Van Zyl A. Diagnosis and management of oral lesions and conditions in the newborn. SA Fam Pract. 2010;52(6):489-91.
Singh RK, Kumar R, Pandey RK, Singh K. Dental lamina cysts in a newborn infant. BMJ Case Rep. 2012;2012:bcr2012007061.
Cohen RL. Clinical perspectives on premature tooth eruption and cyst formation in neonates. Pediatr Dermatol. 1984;1(4):301-6.
Marini R, Chipaila N, Monaco A, Vitolo D, Sfasciotti GL. Unusual symptomatic inclusion cysts in a newborn: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2014;8:314.
Patil S, Rao RS, Majumdar B, Jafer M, Maralingannavar M, Sukumaran A. Oral Lesions in Neonates. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2016;9(2):131-8.
Kumar A, Grewal H, Verma M. Dental lamina cyst of newborn: a case report. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2008;26(4):175-6.
de Oliveira AJ, Silveira ML, Duarte DA, Diniz MB. Eruption Cyst in the Neonate. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2018;11(1):58-60.
Dhawan P, Kochhar GK, Chachra S, Advani S. Eruption cysts: A series of two cases. Dent Res J (Isfahan). 2012;9(5):647-50.
Mecarini F, Fanos V, Crisponi G. Anomalies of the oral cavity in newborns. J Perinatol. 2020;40(3):359-68.
Merrett SJ, Crawford PJ. Congenital epulis of the newborn: a case report. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2003;13(2):127-9.
Damm DD, Cibull ML, Geissler RH, Neville BW, Bowden CM, Lehmann JE. Investigation into the histogenesis of congenital epulis of the newborn. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1993;76(2):205-12.
Kim GY, Kim S, Chang JS, Pyo SW. Advancements in Methods of Classification and Measurement Used to Assess Tooth Mobility: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2023;13(1):142.
Jamani NA, Ardini YD, Harun NA. Neonatal tooth with Riga-Fide disease affecting breastfeeding: a case report. Int Breastfeed J. 2018;13:35.
Moura LF, Moura MS, Lima MD, Lima CC, Dantas-Neta NB, Lopes TS. Natal and neonatal teeth: a review of 23 cases. J Dent Child (Chic). 2014;81(2):107-11.
Jacobs L, Dickinson J, Hart P, Doherty D, Faulkner S. Normal Nipple Position in Term Infants Measured on Breastfeeding Ultrasound. J Hum Lact. 2007;23(1):52-9.
Iandolo A, Amato A, Sangiovanni G, Argentino S, Pisano M. Riga-Fede disease: A systematic review and report of two cases. Eur J Paediatr Dent. 2021;22(4):323-31.
Costacurta M, Maturo P, Docimo R. Riga-Fede disease and neonatal teeth. Oral Implantol (Rome). 2012;5(1):26-30.
Slayton RL. Treatment alternatives for sublingual traumatic ulceration (Riga-Fede disease). Pediatr Dent. 2000;22(5):413-4.
FDA Advisory No.2021-0352 || Product Recall of Specific Batches of Three (3) Dosage Forms of Deproteinized Calf Blood Extract (Solcoseryl). Available from: https://www.fda.gov.ph/fda-advisory-no-2021-0352-product-recall-of-specific-batches-of-three-3-dosage-forms-of-deproteinized-calf-blood-extract-solcoseryl/
Yildirim A, Metzler P, Lanzer M, Lübbers HT, Yildirim V. Solcoseryl® Dental-Adhäsivpaste - Wirkmechanismus und Risiken. Swiss Dent J. 2015;125(5):612-3.
Shivpuri A, Mitra R, Saxena V, Shivpuri A. Natal and neonatal teeth: Clinically relevant findings in a retrospective analysis. Med J Armed Forces India. 2021;77(2):154-7.
Hand I, Noble L, Abrams SA. AAP Committee on Fetus and Newborn, Section on Breastfeeding, Committee on Nutrition, Vitamin K and the Newborn Infant. Pediatrics. 2022;149(3):e2021056036.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Use of local anesthesia for pediatric dental patients. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry, Chicago, Ill. AAPD 2024;386-93. Available from: https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_guidelines/bp_localanesthesia.pdf
Awooda EM, Ali AY, Hassan MZ. Eight-year Follow-up after the Removal of a Maxillary Molar Natal Tooth. J Clin Neonatol. 2023;12(4):157-9.
Rahul M, Kapur A, Goyal A. Management of prematurely erupted teeth in newborns. BMJ Case Rep 2018;2018:bcr2018225288.
To EW. A study of natal teeth in Hong Kong Chinese. Int J Paediatr Dent 1991;1(2):73-6.
Tsubone H, Onishi T, Hayashibara T, Sobue S, Ooshima T. Clinico-pathological aspects of a residual natal tooth: a case report. J Oral Pathol Med. 2002;31(4):239–41.
Sridhar M, Sai Sankar AJ, Sankar KS, Kumar KK. Accidental displacement of primary anterior teeth following extraction of neonatal teeth. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2020;38(3):311–4.
Vora E, Winnier J, Bhatia R. Neonatal osteomyelitis: An unusual complication of natal tooth extraction. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2018;36(1):97–100.
Barreras CM, Alemán FM, Burgueño ER, Caldeira PC. Peripheral ossifying fibroma in a newborn: A potential complication after natal teeth extraction. Odontoestomatología. 2022;24.
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Siriraj Medical Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following conditions:
Copyright Transfer
In submitting a manuscript, the authors acknowledge that the work will become the copyrighted property of Siriraj Medical Journal upon publication.
License
Articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license allows for the sharing of the work for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution to the authors and the journal. However, it does not permit modifications or the creation of derivative works.
Sharing and Access
Authors are encouraged to share their article on their personal or institutional websites and through other non-commercial platforms. Doing so can increase readership and citations.
