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Teething

Wed, 17/01/2007 - 14:18 — moodystar

My son is currently teething. His teeth are coming through verrrrry slowly. Of the teeth that have arrived, most of them are crooked. The bottom teeth seem okay but he has only had two of them break through. The top teeth are not so good, even teeth that are not on the same side as his cleft are crooked. I would be interested to know what other Cleftworlders experienced with teething. Any info appreciated.

Dimple/Cleft Chin ›

teething

My son is 5 now but when he was teething they seemed to all come in at once. He was getting 2-3 at a time. When his molars came in all 4 came through the same day. It was really weird because other babies around his age were totally different than him and I didn't know if it was because of the cleft palate. When they all came in though they were crooked. He has met with an orthodontist a couple times so far and they informed me that about 90% of cleft children will need braces and there is a possibility that when adult teeth come in some of them could either be missing or he would grow extras. They said it's just something that happens with the cleft sometimes. They said the chances are small but it is a possibility and if teeth are missing he will have to get dental implants. His teeth are getting loose now and they are going the way they came in...all at once. He had no wiggly teeth one day and the next he now has 4 loose. I just hope he will get all his adult teeth like the other kids at school. Time will tell.

Fri, 19/01/2007 - 09:34 — michelle

Thanks Michelle

Thanks Michelle, looks like I'm just going to have to wait and see. I just wish a few more would come through! I kind of like the sound of all of them coming through real fast! This teething thing has been going on for an eterntity. Anyways, best of luck to your son with his adult teeth.

Fri, 19/01/2007 - 11:32 — moodystar

Bone grafts

Has anyone gone through the bone graft thing for the gums? At one point we were told that might have to happen with our son but I've never heard of anyone having to go through this. Or is this the same as implants?

Fri, 19/01/2007 - 11:45 — pook

Bone Grafts - Not Yet

Hello!

We were told that Rachel wouldn't have a bone graft (where they take a piece of bone from the childs hip bone, and in some cases I've read a little piece of rib bone and surgically implant it into the cleft gum) until her baby teeth start falling out that way her permanent teeth have something to grow into.

Sun, 21/01/2007 - 16:16 — Darcy

more on bone grafting

I had a choice of where the drs would take the bone - either from my hip or ribs. I am very grateful to have chosen my hip. Though painful, the scarring and dent from where they took the marrow is hidden on my hip. If they had used the ribs I think the pain would have been worse and probably a longer time healing. I don't like to think about how it would look if they had taken the marrow from a rib. I am not trying to scare you, but they actually take more than 'a little bit' of marrow. They have to. Fragments will work themselves out and there has to be enough that will take and fuse together. I had to have the surgery before I had braces so that there would be solid gum tissue and bone for me teeth to anchor to. I never did have adult (what are they - insisors? sorry it's late and I can't think too well)

Sun, 28/01/2007 - 18:09 — dunyana

bone graft

I had to have a bone graft when I was 17. They took bone marrow from my left hip to fill in the gums where I had a double cleft palate. It was a difficult surgery. They over-packed the gums to compensate for what they knew would work loose. From a 50/50 shot at working (those were scary odds) it took beautifully though I did have bone fragments work loose and come out for about a year. It was worth it.

Sat, 27/01/2007 - 11:06 — dunyana

Bone Graft

I had a bone graft about 4 years ago, when I was 12. They took the bone marrow from my right hip and I was left with a long scar going across it. And I LOVE it, looks so cool in my opinion ^_^

Fri, 16/02/2007 - 12:05 — Charley-Brown

Still not entirely clear

on the whole bone graft thing, in particular why it is required. Are you able to shed some light on this for me?

Sat, 17/02/2007 - 22:17 — ole

on grafting

Hi Ole,
Because many of us are born with the cleft/s in our gums, there is not solid foundation for orthodontic work to be done in. My two front teeth faced each other and could not be straightened out because the solid gum tissue was too small between the gaps. When they do the bone graft, they take marrow from normally the hip or ribs and fill in the gaps. They take lots of tinty pieces that fuse together with the existing bone and eventually heal into one solid piece. Aside from slight scarring on the surface of my gums, the surgery made a huge difference. Sort of a complicated proceedure, but well worth it. Without the surgery I never would have been able to have the orthodontic work done. It's nice to have a 'solid' feel to my mouth. Before the surgery I was able to push the back side of my front teeth and feel the palate move a bit. I noticed it also helped with the shape of my upper lip after (not so concave anymore), as well as helping to not make me sound nasaly when I talked and liquids I drank no longer found their way into my nose. Hope this helps clear it up a bit.

Whatever you can do, or dream you can do - Begin. For boldness has magic, power and genius in it. Goethe

Thu, 22/02/2007 - 00:48 — dunyana

Slow Teether

Rachel was VERY slow when it came to teeth starting to come in. Although there has been a time or two when she's had two or three teeth coming in at once. And so far alll are relatively straight except at the cleft in her gum, then she has a tooth coming out sideways from the cleft.

We've been told that she'll need braces probably twice.

Sun, 21/01/2007 - 16:14 — Darcy

teething

ethan's teeth all came in pretty quickly when they started coming in they first few looked like they were totally turned sideways and we thought one was even coming out the side of his gums and going to hurt his lip. his doc said not to worry about it there was nothing they could do with him being so young just to wait till he got a little bigger. sure enough we waited and it came in normal his teeth my all mean are not straight but they are not as bad as we expected. so my advice to you is not to sweat it wait untill they are in and remember it could be way worse i have heard of cleft kids teeth coming in all over there mouth. take it easy mom we worry about so much don't let this bother you too
jannelle

Sun, 28/01/2007 - 16:34 — ethansmommy
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