Things You Should Know About Your Childrens Teeth
Hypodontia and oligodontia are conditions that effect children and are dental terms used to define the absence of permanent teeth. Between one and six missing permanent teeth is known as hypodontia, and more than six missing teeth is oligodontia. In some cases anodontia occurs, this is when all permanent teeth are absent. It is hard to prevent a child from being effected by these conditions because they are genetically inherited. Only approximately 2.8% of the US population has congenitally missing teeth, but it is a condition that affects its victims their entire life.
Permanent teeth do not start to erupt until at least the age of 12, but an early diagnosis of hypo/oligodontia can be made shortly after birth using radiography. Positive diagnosis should not be made until permanent teeth begin to develop around the age of 6. This is because the development of teeth varies with gender, race, and on an individual basis. Radiography shows the spaces where permanent teeth will grow, called crypts, but it is possible for these to change as the child grows. In most cases, once side of the jaw will have a full set of teeth and the opposite side will have the missing tooth or teeth, but in other cases teeth may be missing on both sides of the jaw.
The most common factor that causes hypodontia is an inherited genetic mutation of either the MSX1 or PAX9 chromosome. It is thought that there are other chromosome mutations that effect tooth development, but studies are ongoing and no confirmation has been made. Tests can be conducted to find mutations in the MSX1 and PAX9 chromosomes, but they are not yet available to the general public and are used for study purposes. Fractures or breaks of the jaw bone, jaw surgery, irradiation procedures, chemotherapy/radiation therapy, and some malignant disease treatments occurring before the age of tooth development and eruption may cause congenitally missing teeth in a child that does not have a genetic mutation. Thalidomide was widely prescribes until 1962 to pregnant women suffering from morning sickness, and is currently used as a treatment for a bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma, and as a sedative. Some women continue to use Thalidomide during pregnancy even with known dangers to the fetus, including many physical and mental defects such as congenitally missing teeth, mental retardation, and un/underdeveloped limbs. Not only does this medication cause birth defects in its users offspring, but has effected following generations.
A gap between the teeth, called an open bite, as well as a difference in dental occlusion, the way that upper and lower teeth fit together, may be present in cases of hypo- or oligodontia. Other cases may have teeth that are so tight in bone that they cannot erupt or only partially erupt. Children with hypodontia and oligodontia do not respond to braces treatments and may require partial, or full, dentures.
A child/adult with congenitally missing teeth may also have a delay in formation and eruption of teeth, reduction in tooth size, a difference in tooth shape, a displacement of teeth, short tooth roots, and rotated teeth. Hypocalcification may also occur, this is when a tooth, or teeth, have less enamel than normal teeth causing dents, discoloration, and/or milky white, yellow, or brown spots on the tooth/teeth.
Only approximately 2.8% of the US population suffers from congenital missing teeth, and, in most cases, only two teeth are missing. The mandibular premolars and the maxillary central incisors are the most common teeth that fail to erupt. If there is a history of hypodontia or oligodontia in either of the parents families, then there is a high possibility that a child born to those parents will have congenitally missing teeth. If the child is female, the possibility increases slightly because studies show a slight increase of predominance in females.
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