Growing Up: A Toothy Issue

The Boy's front baby tooth was loose, so we extracted it Mommy's way on Aug 11, 2012.

However, when the new tooth started growing, we noticed that it was shaped as a canine tooth, instead of an incisor (earlier, we thought it was just an odd angle).

So off we went to our friendly dentist, who took an x-ray of the gums. Indeed, it was a canine tooth. An extra one, at that. Otherwise known as hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth. Pretty cool, eh?
Can't really pinpoint a cause, but apparently, this condition is most common in the Chinese and South American population, with between ten and forty percent of the population effected. 

We're just gonna hold on for a while and see if it'll come loose on its own, together with its next-door neighbour.

The x-ray showing the extra tooth and the permanent teeth waiting below in the gums

The friendly dentist explaining the x-ray to Mommy and Boy

On a side note: I thought this picture of a child's skull, showing both baby and growing permanent teeth was grossly fascinating.

Pix of skull exhibit at Hunterian Museum by Stefan Schafer

It sparked Mommy on a journey of research and discovery into how our teeth form and develop and erupt.Our teeth, both baby and permanent, start budding even while we're in our mothers' wombs.

Indeed, "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139:14)