Baby (deciduous) teeth serve several important functions. Besides their basic role in chewing, baby teeth aid in proper speech, give form to the face, and most important, hold the space for the permanent teeth which will eventually replace them.
Although permanent teeth begin forming even before birth, some are not ready to erupt into the mouth until age 12 or 13. If one or more of the baby teeth are prematurely lost or even just badly decayed these permanent teeth may come in crooked or be prevented from erupting at all due to loss of adequate space,
M.K, NIJJAR, D.D.S.
FAMILY DENTISTRY FREMONT SAN JOSE 2188 Peralla Bhd. 2880 Story Rd. Fremant, $4596 San Jose, 95127
(415)7947058 (408) 2588664 (Weekly Information Column).
Article extracted from this publication >> June 23, 1989
