We will normally have and lose 20 primary teeth early in our lives. These will typically be followed by 32 permanent teeth. That’s what happens in typical cases, anyway. Have you ever heard that not all people have 32 permanent teeth? Are you one of these people? A common explanation for this occurrence is hypodontia, a developmental abnormality.
People with hypodontia will be lacking 6 or fewer teeth, those with oligodontia are missing more than 6 teeth, and those who have none of their permanent teeth have anodontia. This happens because the permanent teeth fail to develop properly.
There’s no need to be upset if you are someone with hypodontia. Hypodontia one of the most typical developmental conditions with regards to your mouth, as it’s estimated that twenty percent of adults are born with at least one tooth missing. Hypodontia happens more frequently in the case of identical twins. Hypodontia is also more common in women.
Hypodontia tends to be an inherited issue but can be affected by environmental factors as well. These factors are having low birth weight, incidences of rubella, maternal smoking, and advanced maternal age. Thankfully, there are treatments available for missing teeth, including dental prosthetics, implants, and orthodontic braces and appliances. Additionally, when the gap because of the missing teeth is small, your dentist can bond tooth-colored fillings to the teeth, closing the gap.
Treatment for missing teeth is slightly different for children. Because children’s jaws aren’t as developed, it isn’t recommended that they receive implants. Your child’s primary tooth can stay in place for a lifetime if there isn’t a permanent tooth below it to push it out. If keeping the baby tooth isn’t possible, their dentist may use braces to move the other permanent teeth toward each other in order to close the gap between the teeth.
Because this condition is genetic, any of your children have a higher risk of developing the abnormality. If you happen to be a parent and have hypodontia, let your child’s dentist know.
Have you had a dental exam recently? If not, give us a call to schedule your appointment with one of our dentists at Olney Dental Center!