Dental Management in Natal and Neonatal Teeth

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.