Management of natal/neonatal/early infancy teeth

The natal, neonatal and early infancy teeth predominantly being of the normal series of primary dentition, the management should aim at preservation of these teeth for esthetics and maintenance of space for eruption of permanent successor. The treatment method should take into consideration (a) trauma to child's oral tissue or mother's breast (b) mobility and (c) danger of inhalation. Trauma was noted in 10 percent, mobility and danger of inhalation in 94 percent. Extraction carried out in 97 percent of 50 children with natal/neonatal/early infancy teeth showed that the neighbouring primary teeth tended to move into the extraction space. Eruption of the permanent successors to natal/neonatal teeth was not delayed, rather in some instances the eruption was found to be enhanced as compared to contralateral incisor as noted in unilaterally occurring natal/neonatal teeth. The mandibular anterior arch collapse was not permanent as the successors erupted uncrowded. The paper discusses the method and timing of extraction. From the immunological and hematological point of view the best time for extraction was calculated to be 7-25 days of birth.