OBJECTIVE: To review available data about natal and neonatal teeth, emphasizing clinical characteristics, etiological factors, treatment, and the importance of the knowledge about this anomaly by pediatric dentists and pediatricians. DATA SOURCES: The most relevant articles published on the subject were selected, from 1950 to 2006, browsed on Medline, Brazilian Bibliografy of Odontology (BBO) and Dentistry books. DATA SYNTHESIS: Natal and neonatal teeth are considered eruption anomalies, characterized by eruption into oral cavity during the intrauterine period or during the first month after birth, respectively, being part of the regular deciduous or the supernumerary dentitions. As these teeth usually present cutting edges, they can be related to traumatic injury to newborn’s tongue and/or to mother’s nipples, compromising breastfeeding. In general, the weak attachment of these teeth to alveolar bone favors a high degree of mobility, which exposes the infant to the risk of aspiration or swallowing them. The management depends on which dentition these teeth belong and/or on complications that may affect either infant’s or mother’s health. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge about the clinical characteristics and the possible complications related to natal and neonatal teeth by pediatric dentists and pediatricians provides the necessary interaction to early diagnosis and infant general management.
tooth; deciduous; natal teeth; Pediatric Dentistry; Pediatrics