skin between the 2 front teeth

I had posted several weeks ago asking if it is normal for the front teeth to have a big space between them and someone had mentioned something about skin between them. Well, yesterday, I was pulling her lip up to look at her front teeth and noticed that she does indeed have this strange skin thing that is attatched between her front teeth and her upper lip. what is that? Has anyone here ever had that on one of their kids? what did you have to do, if anything?

 

Don't know if it's the same thing, but my mom has skin that sticks out between her 2 front teeth in front, and I have it that sticks out behind . . . it's just the way we are . . . not a big deal, except that we both always get burned biting into anything hot (especially pizza for some reason).

Of course, have the pedi or dentist look at it, but it's probably nothing to worry about (except for the already mentioned risk!)

-Rachel

 

I have bit of skin that no doubt used to be attached to the gums but it tore long ago and healed detached. My boys have the same thing. Trent has already torn his falling with a straw sippy. I don't think it's anything to worry about.

 

I think is normal to have that tissue. As a teenager, I still had the gap between my teeth so I went to the orthodontist. He told me that the tissue normally recedes during childhood when the permanent teeth come in. My did not recede so I had gum surgery to remove it then wore braces for a short time (3 months or so) to bring the teeth together. More than likely, your child's will recede and the permanent teeth will come in properly spaced.

 

I believe that the "skin" that you see is called a frenum. Everyone has them, but some people have ones that are lower than others. Sometimes those with lower frenums don't allow the 2 front teeth to ever be close together. If this occurs, surgery may be needed to remove the frenum (frenectomy). However, this is rare and most likely NOT the case. Like pp's said, it usually is not an issue when the adult teeth come in. In some cases, it will be less severe when the other neighboring teeth come in. Your dentist can explain it further.

 

When Noah fell and ripped his, I asked the dentist. She said its completely normal. Some people have it, some don't. Those who do have it-- sometimes it retracts, sometimes it gets ripped, some have it surgically removed for cosmetic reasons, and some leave it as is. I'm sure that as a teenager, if it causes a big cosmetic issue, you can always have it trimmed.

 

My twins both had/have this. Hannah had a frenectomy when she was 3 and Faith will have hers next week. It's a very simple lazer surgery. I think it mostly a cosmetic thing. They will have a gap between their front permanant teeth if this surgery was not done. My dental insurance covers it.

 

QUOTE(**Sandy** @ May 22 2007, 12:38 PM) [snapback]264817[/snapback]
I think is normal to have that tissue.

my dd's resolved itself. Can't hurt to have a dentist look at it if it doesn't change as they get older.

 

I had a frenectomy when I was in middle school (before braces). I had a very wide gap between my front teeth. It was a relatively easy surgery, with a little swelling and soreness afterwards. I am very grateful to my parents for all of the money they put into my mouth, as I am often complimented on what straight teeth I have and pretty smile. If they could only have seen me pre-braces

 

Thanks all for your responses. Guess I'll just have to wait a little longer and see what happens. Today I looked at Arwen's mouth and it turns out that she has it too. Guess I'll just have to wait it out. Thanks again.