Tiny teeth: A preterm neonate born with teeth

Natal teeth are present at birth and are uncommon. Their visual appearance can be unsettling for parents and in some cultures natal teeth are associated with positive or negative superstitions. This article presents the case and management of a preterm twin neonate born with two lower incisors who required respiratory support and nasogastric feeding.

Dr Abdullah A Khan
Neonatal registrar

Dr Peter Reynolds
Neonatal consultant

Neonatal ICU, St Peters Hospital, Chertsey

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Keywords

natal teeth; preterm twins; riga-fede disease

Key points

There is limited literature on natal teeth, particularly in preterm infants requiring respiratory and/or feeding support.
There are risks including pain, bleeding, aspiration and feeding failure.
Babies should undergo prompt dental review to plan management and to reassure parents that the condition, when isolated, is a ‘normal variant’ and not usually associated with long-term problems.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 17/ISSUE 3, MAY 2021

Congenital epulis and differential diagnoses of a neonatal oral mass

Oral mass in a newborn is rare but often quite daunting, leading to anxiety in parents. Very few hospitals have dental or maxillofacial facilities on site and this may lead to delayed diagnosis and intervention. A thorough clinical examination and knowledge of the oral mass is essential for precise diagnosis, management and parental reassurance. In this review article, we present a newborn baby with congenital epulis – an oral mass arising from the alveolar ridge. We also summarise the differential diagnoses based on location and consistency of the oral masses in this age group.