The human body is expected to develop in a certain way, and the only indication of a potential problem might be when something fails to develop. Your 20 baby teeth grew without anything seeming to be out of the ordinary. These teeth loosened and fell out, and again, so far, so good. These 20 primary teeth are typically replaced with 32 permanent teeth.
But what about when someone's dental development is atypical in terms of the number of permanent teeth that have ultimately grown? Hypodontia is a condition where someone fails to grow anywhere between one and six of their permanent teeth. Read on to learn about your options when this condition affects you.
No Intervention
Treating hypodontia is not especially complicated, particularly when you consider that your dentist may suggest that no intervention is necessary. This can sometimes be the case when only a single tooth has failed to develop, and its absence has not compromised your physical appearance. So if your missing tooth is a molar or premolar which is inconspicuous, the gap can often be left as is. There might be a concern that the absence of a tooth will accelerate wear and tear on the neighboring teeth, however, this will be regularly monitored during your dental checkups, and appropriate action can be taken if needed.
Orthodontics
Orthodontic manipulation to close the gap created by the absent tooth is another option. This means you will need dental braces. Orthodontic space closure is when the adjacent teeth are realigned to conceal their absent neighbor. Though it can offer an effective outcome, several factors must be considered before committing to orthodontic space closure, which is generally reliant on how natural the results will look. This depends on the location of the tooth, with orthodontic space closure not being entirely effective when it comes to a prominent tooth, such as a canine or incisor.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are an efficient tooth replacement method that offers the most natural result. The result is also comfortingly predictable, and less likely to result in unforeseen outcomes, as can be the case of leaving the gap as is or orthodontic space closure. The titanium implant is surgically inserted into your jaw, and during the healing period, the implant integrates into your jawbone and surrounding tissues. The implant is then fitted with a connective abutment before a prosthetic tooth finishes the dental implant procedure.
Although some of your permanent teeth may have failed to develop, it is possible to conceal the problem or to finish your smile with a dental implant.
Share21 January 2021
Do you have a different doctor from your spouse? Does your child see a pediatrician? Most families have different medical health providers for different members of the family. This makes sense in most cases, but did you know that you can find a dentist who will treat every person in the family from a baby to a senior? I'm a manager or a family dentist, and in this blog you will learn why a family dentist is a great idea. I will tell you the many advantages of taking every family member to the same dentist, and I will give you tips of finding the right dental office for your family.