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What is Hypodontia?

What is Hypodontia?

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Hypodontia is a type of dental agenesis and is a term dentists use to describe congenitally missing teeth. Specifically, a person with hypodontia is missing one to six teeth (not counting 20-year-old teeth). Hypodontia can occur in any part of your mouth. But the most commonly missing teeth in people with hypodontia are:

  • Upper lateral incisors (small teeth on either side of your upper two front teeth).
  • Upper second premolars (teeth just in front of the upper molars).
  • Lower second premolars (teeth just in front of the lower molars).

Missing teeth can affect your ability to eat and speak. Hypodontia can also cause gum damage and inadequate jawbone development. This lack of bone growth can lead to underdevelopment of your jaw, making it appear smaller than it should.

Hypodontia is a birth defect. Children can inherit hypodontia from their biological parents. In some cases, infants and young children may develop hypodontia if they have had certain diseases, infections, or treatments (such as chemotherapy or radiation) during their dental developmental stages.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypodontia?

The most common symptom of hypodontia is being born with one to six missing teeth. Missing teeth can be anywhere in your mouth except your wisdom teeth. Hypodontia can affect primary (baby) teeth or permanent (adult) teeth. People with hypodontia may also have peg-shaped or smaller-than-average teeth. There may also be gaps between existing teeth.

Besides these, hypodontia can be a symptom of other genetic disorders. Some people with hypodontia may also develop symptoms of ectodermal dysplasia. People with ectodermal dysplasia may have:

  • Nail abnormalities.
  • Thinning hair.
  • Poor hearing.
  • Poor vision.
  • Lack of sweat glands.
How Is Hypodontia Treated?

If your child's baby teeth don't come out of the gums at age 4 or permanent teeth at age 14, then they should see a dentist. If you are worried about your child's missing teeth, you should contact your dentist and help determine an appropriate treatment.

Hypodontia treatments include:

  • Brackets or other types of orthodontics.
  • partial dentures
  • Dental bridges.
  • Dental implants.

Children with hypodontia typically use partial dentures until they reach a certain age for other treatments.