--- title: Why This Newborn's Smile Is So Rare description: Baby is born with two front teeth. image: https://blog.diversitynursing.com/hs-fs/file-2609143338-jpg/images/kolr_baby_kab_150107_16x9_992-resized-600.jpg --- ![](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/hs-fs/file-2609143338-jpg/images/kolr_baby_kab_150107_16x9_992-resized-600.jpg) ### Why This Newborn's Smile Is So Rare *Posted By* Erica Bettencourt Mon, Jan 12, 2015 @ 10:34 AM - - - By LIZ NEPORENT ![KOLR baby kab 150107 16x9 992 resized 600](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/hs-fs/file-2609143338-jpg/images/kolr_baby_kab_150107_16x9_992-resized-600.jpg) Alyssa Bailey was born three days after Christmas with a little something extra -- two bottom front teeth.   The doctors and nurses who delivered her were quite taken with this dental surprise, said the baby's mom, Jaklina Bailey. "Right when she first arrived, everybody was just shocked," the mother told ABC7, the ABC affiliate in Branson, Missouri, where the baby was born. "Just like, 'She has two front teeth? No kidding? Really?' It was just a big talk about it, you know, in the delivery room." While not common, it's not unheard of for babies to be born with fully formed teeth, said Dr. Laura Corio, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "Teeth can be present in oral cavities at birth and may be related to certain other health problems but not always," Corio explained. About one in every 2,000 to 3,000 babies are born with teeth, according to the National Institutes of Health. Like Bailey, they usually appear on the lower gums but on occasion you'll see a baby born with a mouthful of chompers, Corio said. Typically, the doctor will remove or shave down the natal teeth as soon as possible to avoid problems with nursing and prevent the baby from cutting its tongue, said Corio. In baby Alyssa's case, her mom said they're going to keep an eye out to ensure the tiny teeth don't come loose and present a choking hazard. But since they're an extra set, once they fall out, doctors are confident her usual baby teeth will grow in normally. Source: [http://abcnews.go.com](http://abcnews.go.com/Health/newborns-smile-rare/story?id=28055744) ### Recent Posts [![](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/hubfs/GettyImages-1428257600.jpg) ##### Advancing Mental Health Equity for Every Community Thu, Jul 02, 2026 @ 09:34 AM Every July, the United States observes National Minority Mental Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges experienced by racial and ethnic minority... Read More ](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/blog/advancing-mental-health-equity-for-every-community) [![](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2196910512.jpg) ##### Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Nursing School and Beyond Wed, Jun 24, 2026 @ 01:29 PM There's a moment almost every nursing student experiences. You're standing at the bedside, maybe it's your first clinical day, maybe it's your first week on the floor as a new grad, and a small, cold... Read More ](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/blog/overcoming-imposter-syndrome-in-nursing-school-and-beyond) [![](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/hubfs/GettyImages-2173000043.jpg) ##### We're Still Burning: A Nurse's Take on the 2026 Burnout Statistics Wed, Jun 17, 2026 @ 10:33 AM I've been a Nurse long enough to remember when "burnout" wasn't something we talked about openly. You pushed through a brutal shift, grabbed a lukewarm coffee from the break room, and did it all... Read More ](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/blog/were-still-burning-a-nurses-take-on-the-2026-burnout-statistics) #### Subscribe to Email Our Newsletter [![Education_Award_Square](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Education_Award_Square.jpeg?width=485&height=317&name=Education_Award_Square.jpeg) ](https://blog.diversitynursing.com/education-award)