Only an age issue?
No; the cause matters.
← All explanationsRetained primary tooth
Why can a baby tooth remain for longer?
A retained primary tooth remains beyond the expected time of replacement. A missing permanent successor or an eruption problem may be involved. Retention or removal is decided for the individual tooth.
For training & practice ↓
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Choose a view
Identify the tooth
A small tooth is not necessarily a baby tooth. Examination and dental records establish its identity and whether replacement is delayed.
Check successor and condition
Assessment considers any permanent successor, roots, decay, mobility and height relative to the biting surface. X-rays are selected to answer a specific clinical question.
Preserve or plan the space
A suitable primary tooth may remain in use with review. If removal becomes necessary, plan beforehand how the resulting space will be managed.
Read the full explanation
Identify the tooth
A small tooth is not necessarily a baby tooth. Examination and dental records establish its identity and whether replacement is delayed.
Check successor and condition
Assessment considers any permanent successor, roots, decay, mobility and height relative to the biting surface. X-rays are selected to answer a specific clinical question.
Preserve or plan the space
A suitable primary tooth may remain in use with review. If removal becomes necessary, plan beforehand how the resulting space will be managed.
Notes on the teaching images
- Retained primary molar · fictional tooth row
- Two separate examples · not a sequence
- Same tooth row · plan preservation individually
At a glance
Loose or painful?
Arrange an examination.
Can it be retained?
Depending on the findings and plan.
Knowledge in motion
Explained in 36 seconds.
Three steps. No audio.
Each scene can also be selected manually.
Silent educational film with German on-screen text and simplified teaching images. Not a patient case or a promised treatment outcome. The full English explanation is available as text.
Often confused
Persistence does not identify the cause
Persistence describes remaining in place. Hypodontia means a tooth failed to develop; ankylosis means fusion between a root and bone. These are different findings.
Quick answers
Must an adult’s baby tooth be removed?
Not because of age alone. Its condition, function and the overall plan matter.
Is the permanent successor always missing?
No. An eruption problem may also be involved.
How long can it last?
Its individual lifespan cannot be guaranteed. Regular assessment helps identify changes.
At the practice
For the appointment
You can bring this question to your appointment:
Is there a permanent successor, and how would any space be managed?
An examination can clarify the finding and any need for referral.
Arrange an assessmentAppointment selection at DoctolibLearning layer for training & practiceUnderstand terminology and deepen knowledge
- Successor
- The permanent tooth replacing a primary tooth.
- Infraocclusion
- A tooth sits below the neighbouring biting plane.
Make the distinction
Persistence describes remaining in place. Hypodontia means a tooth failed to develop; ankylosis means fusion between a root and bone. These are different findings.
Sources and context
Editorial research: . General information, not an individual diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Teaching illustrations are simplified and do not depict a patient case.