After an x-ray a dentist told me i had 4 baby teeth with no adult ones beneath them. they didn't really elaborate. two are loose now. what is this?

Missing teeth: Some people are born without the genes needed to make all their permanent teeth. Most of the time dentists like to save these teeth for as long as possible. Once you lose them you will want to consider having dental implants palced in those area/.

Not uncommon: Mother nature is having us loose teeth because our faces are getting smaller over eons of time. Sounds like you need intervention now so other teeth don't collapse into space where baby teeth are falling-out. Ask your dentist to refer you to an orthodontic specialist to consider closing the spaces that you will soon have.

Baby (primary) teeth: Baby teeth are to keep space and dissolve when the permanent teeth come in to replace them. If you do not have permanent teeth usually the baby teeth eventually fall out. To replace the holes we used to do bridges. Now we usually place an implant to keep the integrity of the mouth.

Evolutionary trend: Unlike our prehistoric ancestors, we don't need to protect ourselves and eat food the way they did. It's an evolutionary trend to have smaller jaws and occasionally less teeth. Primary (baby) teeth are not meant to last a lifetime, and without permanent ones to replace them, tend to loosen in early adulthood. Consult with your dentist as to possible orthodontic treatment, implants or a combination.

Baby teeth: We get 2 sets of teeth. The adult ones develop underneath the primary and in the process of growth will erode away the baby teeths roots. This is what causes the tooth to come out. Sometimes there is no adult tooth below, so the tooth remains. They are not meant to last a lifetime and can deteriorate. See a qualified dentist for options for replacement. Implants or even ortho are good options.

It happens: Sometimes baby teeth are not replaced by permanent teeth and they will stay in the mouth . As long as they are healthy and strong, you can continue keeping them . Once lost, they will need to be replaced the same way you would the permanent dentition.

Missing teeth: Sometimes permanent teeth do not develop, a genetic trait. Your dentist should discuss treatment options. They can be replaced with implants or orthodontic treatment may move the teeth to close the spaces.