Lesson 47

Sound of the doorbell

Patient: Good morning, Doctor. I have an appointment scheduled for 5p.m.

Doctor: Hello, Please come in. Have a seat in the armchair, please. I've managed to finish ahead of time today.

Patient: Oh, that's good because I had planned to ask you about my son. We are concerned about him. He was born a month ago, and already has two teeth on the bottom. Isn't it too soon?

Doctor: Of course. In most cases, the first milk teeth appear in the child who's about 6 months old. So, these are definitely natal teeth, which means your son was simply born with them.

Patient: I see, what now, Doctor?

Doctor: I need to see how firm they are. They may sometimes be wobbly. If they are wobbly, we'll have to remove them because the baby may swallow them or they even may be aspirated into the respiratory tract.

Patient: But I think this treatment should be done later, when he is older, shouldn't it?

Doctor: No, I would suggest now. Such teeth can be removed from the second or third week of life, unless the child is sick.

Patient: Fortunately he is not. He is a healthy child, but those teeth.

Doctor: Do not worry. If the teeth do not damage the mucosa and are well embedded, they do not need to be removed.

Patient: Will the new milk teeth grow in the place where the natal teeth are extracted?

Doctor: Probably not. Natal teeth are in fact milk teeth that grew too quickly, although sometimes they are called predeciduous teeth and then you can expect a real milk teeth to appear. However, this is very rare. If it turns out that the teeth need to be removed, your son will need to visit the orthodontist. You must remember this.

Patient: And when should we go to the orthodontist?

Doctor: You'll have to see the orthodontist when your child has all his milk teeth, so at the age of 2.5-3 years.

Patient: Thank you for the advice. I will explain my wife everything. She's a little worried about this. But it is not a terrible problem, isn't it?

Doctor: Of course it is not.

Patient: We even though it was some genetic defect, but our first baby was teething on time.

Doctor: Sometimes it is indeed genetically determined, but the neonatal or natal teeth can even be caused by an infection. I recommend you go to the pediatrician who will examine the child for general diseases.

Patient: Thank you for the comprehensive information. We are visiting the pediatrician next week. Besides, it was our pediatrician who suggested that we consult this matter with the dentist.

Doctor: Of course. When I examine the child, the problem of keeping the teeth or extracting them will definitively be solved. I can see you again on Monday, prior to other patients' visits at 2.30. Is it suitable for you?

Patient: Absolutely! I'm starting temporary lay-off on Monday, and the spouse is on her sick leave.

Doctor: So, I'll see you on Monday. And now let me start with your tooth, because in 45 minutes I have the next patient.

Patient: Well. All is not lost that is delayed

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

Provide terms for given definitions. Initial letters are provided as hints.

1. T______________- process of growing milk teeth in children.

2. P______________ D__________- the set of 20 teeth that appears normally during infancy, consisting of four incisors, two canines, and four molars in each jaw.

3. P______________ D__________- abnormally accelerated appearance of the deciduous or permanent teeth.

4. R______________ D__________- abnormally delayed appearance of the deciduous or permanent teeth.

5. D______________ T__________- a formal term used to describe child's first “milk teeth”.

6. N______________ T__________- teeth that are already present at the time of birth.

7. N______________ T__________- teeth which grow in during the first 30 days after birth.

8. B______________ C__________- a disease characterized by severe decay in the teeth of infants or young children caused by frequent consumption of liquids containing fermentable carbohydrates (e.g., juice, milk, formula, soda).

Match words from a table with their synonyms in the text. Complete the text with words from the table.

nursing	attached	x-rays	rare	wobbly
aspiration	different	grow	damp	front teeth

Natal teeth are teeth that are already present at the time of birth. They are 1.__________(= unlike) from neonatal teeth, which grow in during the first 30 days after birth. Natal teeth are 2.__________(=uncommon). They are present in about 1 in every 2,000 to 3,000 births. Natal teeth most often 3.__________ (=grow) on the lower gum, where the central 4._________(=incisor teeth) will appear. They have little root structure. They are 5.________ (=connected) to the end of the gum by soft tissue and are often 6.__________ (=unstable).

Natal teeth are usually not well-formed, but they may cause irritation and injury to the infant's tongue when 7.__________ (=breastfeeding). Natal teeth may also be uncomfortable for a nursing mother.

Natal teeth are often removed shortly after birth while the newborn infant is still in the hospital. This is very often done if the tooth is loose and the child runs a risk of 8.__________(=breathing in) the tooth.

Clean the natal teeth by gently wiping the gums and teeth with a clean, 9._________(=moist) cloth. Examine the infant's gums and tongue often to make sure the teeth are not causing injury.

Natal teeth are most often discovered by the health care provider shortly after birth.

Dental 10.___________ (=RTG) may be done in some cases. If there are signs of another condition that may be linked with natal teeth, exams and testing for that condition will be done.

Rearrange words to create pieces of advice concerning baby's oral health.

1. Clean the gums /and lower gums/ by rubbing a clean,/ damp, washcloth along/and the teeth/ the baby's upper/.

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2. into the mouth,/After teeth come/ you can continue using/ to a soft-bristled, infant-sized toothbrush/cloth or switch/.

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3. discomfort by giving/ You can ease/ him or her a hard/ your child's teething /to chew on/ or frozen teething ring/.

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4. Take the finger/ after he or she falls asleep /out of your child's mouth/.

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5. Never dip/ or any other sweet substance /a pacifier in honey /before giving it/ to your baby.

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