Hypodontia

What is hypodontia?

Hypodontia is when a patient is missing teeth from the upper and or lower sets of teeth.  Hypodontia is the absence of up to five adult or deciduous (baby/milk) teeth.

What causes hypodontia?

Hypodontia is typically the result of genetics and is reflective on non-syndromic hypodontia, however, in some cases, it can be linked to syndromic conditions such as:

• Down syndrome
• Cleft lip or palate patients (Van Der Woude syndrome)
• Pierre-Robin sequence.

How to prevent hypodontia?

Prevention of hypodontia is currently not possible due to the genetic influences that it is a result of. However young patients with missing primary teeth (milk/baby teeth) should be assessed by a dentist as they will be able to assess if the adult tooth is also absent.

Identifying at a younger age can then help the patient pre-emptively coordinate any treatments that may be needed or wanted once all the adult teeth have erupted.

How to treat hypodontia?

We recognize some patients may experience struggles with their confidence because of missing teeth. It’s important that if you are experiencing any emotional or physical trouble as a result that you contact the dentist so they can support you in finding the best treatment.

Treatment can vary from patient to patient as the following factors will be considered: how the patient’s bite aligns currently, how many teeth exist in the mouth, does the patient still have deciduous teeth in place.

One of the treatments that may be considered is, if there are still milk teeth in the mouth then they will not be removed.  An alternative solution for when patients have no baby teeth remaining is to apply dental implants where the missing teeth are, surgically.

The dentist may recommend applying a dental bridge where the missing tooth/teeth are. A dental bridge is a false tooth that is secured between two teeth and can be secured by glueing to each side of the surrounding teeth. Or, in some cases, the dentist will apply a crown to both surrounding teeth and attach the false tooth in the middle of the crown.

Dentures may also be a considered form of treatment; dentures are removable and are fitted to the gums where there are no teeth.

How to spot hypodontia/ symptoms?

Patients may demonstrate the following symptoms:

• A misaligned bite.
• Two or more missing teeth.
• Struggles with eating.
• Delayed eruption and formation of the teeth.
• Cleft palate and/or lip.
• Microdontia (Small teeth)