Natal teeth associated with ingestion of herbal medication in pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

Significant alteration in timing of tooth eruption with the first teeth being present at birth or erupting during the first month of life is a rare occurrence in humans. Timing of tooth eruption may be affected by hereditary, endocrine and environmental factors. The presence of natal teeth may lead to complications such as discomfort during suckling, laceration of the mother’s breasts, sublingual ulceration with resultant feed refusal, and aspiration of the teeth making tooth extraction a management option in affected infants. This is to report a rare finding of eight markedly enlarged natal teeth in a post term male. His mother ingested different kinds of herbal medications prior to conception and during pregnancy. The report is aimed at raising questions about the possibility of a causal relationship between antenatal ingestion of herbal medications and occurrence of natal teeth.