Hypodontia; Causes, Risk Factors, Prevention, & Treatment
You know that every human being has a set of 32 teeth. But did you know that some people are born with fewer teeth? This condition is known as hypodontia or congenitally missing teeth (CMT). It is a common dental issue where teeth fail to develop normally from childhood. You can be diagnosed with hypodontia if there are any congenitally missing permanent teeth in your mouth.
Hypodontia is diagnosed in childhood if parents are alert and notice missing teeth in kids. Read on to discover more about hypodontia treatment, its causes, associated problems, and prevention.
What Causes Congenitally Missing Teeth?
The most common cause of hypodontia is inheritance. The CMT caused by a hereditary condition primarily affects one or two teeth.
There are other environmental and external conditions also lead to hypodontia. They are as follows:-
- Early Exposure to Virus Infections & Drugs
- Low Birth Weight
- Multiple Births
- Maternal Smoking
- Increased Maternal Age
- Trauma
What Are The Problems &Risk Factors Associated With Hypodontia?
Your mouth is designed to accommodate and function with 36 teeth. Thus, the congenitally missing permanent teeth disrupt the harmony of natural dental growth. This not only creates physical health issues. But it also impacts your self-confidence. The reason is that your abnormal shape of teeth is visible to people while you talk or smile.
The rest of your teeth start shifting in empty spaces created by the congenitally missing teeth. This shift can cause speech problems, abnormalities in bone growth, and gum damage. Some possible dental anomalies due to CMT are ectopic canines, delayed eruption, and abnormally shaped teeth. In most cases, CMT affects wisdom teeth.
Can You Prevent Hypodontia?
They say “prevention is better than cure.” But the problem is that most cases of hypodontia are hereditary. You can’t do much to prevent it. However, it should also be noted that it’s not necessary that everyone will pass on their hypodontia to the next generation. The most you can do is look out for the other external or environmental triggers of hypodontia, as explained earlier in this article.
The good news is that there are multiple options available for hypodontia treatment. Let’s check them out!
What Are The Available Alternatives for Hypodontia Treatment?
The treatments for congenitally missing permanent teeth are generally a mix of dental implants and orthodontic treatments.
Here are the 4 most common hypodontia treatments:-
Dental Braces
Orthodontic treatments such as braces treat CMT by either moving the teeth for the subsequent treatment or filling the gap. Both kids and adults can be treated with braces. However, missing teeth in kids should be treated once their baby teeth come out and their jawbone gets fully developed.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a duplicate tooth that is fitted in your jawbone through a metal screw. This is an ideal process for adults only and not kids because of the fully grown jawbone in adults. It functions as natural teeth only.
Dentures
Dentures are the removable replica of your set of teeth. It fills the gap of missing teeth and helps you in chewing and speaking correctly. It also enhances your dental appearance.
Bridges
A bridge is a prosthetic tooth that replaces a missing tooth and bonds with an implant or another tooth. It comes in both fixed and removable forms.
Final Thoughts
If you want to know more about the condition of missing teeth in kids or hypodontia in adults, you can call Koch Orthodontics. Click here to contact us right away to book a consultation!