Patients like your cousin develop an acute fear of dentists when they have a bad experience. It is important that she go to a dentist to be evaluated. I'd recommend asking people who they can recommend, and asks specifically if they are patient and have an empathetic disposition. They should be sympathetic to a patient's prior experience.

Usually it's pain that patient's fear the most and that's understandable. I recently had a patient attend my office who had this acute fear, hadn't attended a dental office in about 10 years, and had developed numerous dental problems. The first appointment I assured her we would just talk. I even had her open up about the past experiences because I wanted to understand her fear better.

In spite of the problems she had I told her that we could work at her pace- I wouldn't rush her and didn't want her to feel pressured. To do her work a needle injection would be necessary, but I demonstrated how I go about that to make sure she'd feel as little discomfort as possible (that I'd apply topical gel on the injection site, wiggle the cheek to deaden the injection, and inject very very slowly to minimize the sting).

For further assurance before starting any dental work I'd test the area with an explorer and used the non-anesthetized side for comparison to give her peace of mind that the anesthesia was working.

Ultimately, I explained, it's in my interest that you not only be numb to help you, but that you have confidence that "at no point during the procedure will you feel a jolt, or see stars". My goal, as I said, was after the appointment I want her to feel as though she'd say "I was very scared to see the dentist, but Dr. Schwartz was very patient and didn't cause me any pain. If you want a dentist that doesn't cause pain you should see Dr. Schwartz".

Regarding your cousin's tooth. If it's very loose she should try to pull it off. In all likeliness it's just stuck on the gums. The main concern is she could swallow it in her sleep and it could get into the airway- which could lead to an emergency room visit.

I hope this has been helpful.

Your cousin should start with children dentist specialist (Pedodontist) as a start or a family dentist you can take to for evaluation of the area to see if intervention orthodontic (braces) is needed for maintaining space for the grown up tooth below to come up. The baby tooth should just come out by itself.

Your codon beds to get some dental radio graphic X-ray . All baby teeth should be gone at 14 years.

It is important that you cousin sees a dentist that she is comfortable with. It can be difficult to get over bad experiences but talking about them to an empathetic dentist is a first step.

Her loose baby tooth will fall out but she may still have dental problems that are important to treat. Try to help her find a dentist that will take the time needed to make her comfortable with an exam and needed treatment. Talking to friends and family will her her find a dentist that can help her relax and get the treatment that she needs.

Treatment can be made easier with nitrous, sedation or NuCalm to help her get through the needed treatment but first help her find a caring dentist.

Wigglers should be wiggled out, there is an adult tooth coming in under it and this tooth can travel to places where it was not supposed to be. Your dentist should take an x-ray and asses the situation. The adult tooth if "trapped" can become fused to bone and then that will be another problem. Remember that our mouth is our eating and chewing machine and we need all our parts!

The short answer - yes. A dentist will be able to take an x-ray to find out the situation of the permanent tooth and why it has not come in and caused the baby tooth to come out. Once you have that information you and your dentist can make a plan accordingly.

As has been noted, regular check ups (every 6 months) are important too for catching problems when they are small and more simple to fix.

You know the answer. "Bad experiences" notwithstanding, No "visits" in four years is, in simple terms, neglect.

What is so important about baby teeth

Baby teeth are needed for chewing, speaking, and appearance. They hold space in the jaw for adult teeth and help give the face its shape and form. At birth your child has 20 baby teeth that begin to erupt on average around age six months and are usually (but not always) in by the age of 2 ½. There are 10 teeth on the top and 10 on the bottom. The last baby tooth won’t be lost until around age 12. So it is important to take good care of these baby teeth!

Mom's often feel anxiety about when children lose their teeth.

If your child is over the age of 5, you have probably heard this question! It is not always an easy one to answer. On average the first tooth is lost around 6 ½, but to a child whose friends have already lost a tooth this is hard to understand. While it is common to lose the first tooth between 5-7 years of age, it helps to keep in mind that much like your child, everybody’s teeth are unique! Most often the lower central teeth are the first lost. So, if your child is concerned that they haven’t lost a tooth yet, you can probably “find” a wiggly tooth in that area. And as any kid knows, wiggly teeth are a big deal!

How many teeth will my child lose?

Your child will lose all 20 of their baby teeth over the course of several years, usually by the ages of 12-13. These teeth will be replaced by up to 32 permanent teeth (28 without wisdom teeth!). As your child loses baby teeth, permanent ones will begin to erupt in their place. With the exception of wisdom teeth, all permanent teeth are usually in by the age of 13. At this time, a radiograph should be taken to check for swelling, inflammation, infection or an abscessed tooth. If this occurs antibiotics may be prescribed by an oral surgeon. at the same time they can check TMJ and Sinus areas.

What about molars?

While your child is busy losing teeth, new ones are coming in including the addition of permanent molars. Your child will have up to three sets of molars. The four 1st molars, commonly called the 6 year molars, generally make an appearance around age 6. The four second molars, often known as 12 year molars, start around, you guessed it, age 12! The 3rd molars, or wisdom teeth, are a little different. If they are going to erupt, it is usually around college age, but can range from 15-25. Since there is often not enough room for these teeth to erupt, they are frequently removed. If you have any questions about wisdom teeth your dentist or orthodontist (braces) will be happy to answer them.

You should see that your cousin sees a dentist ASAP