Hypodontia is a dental condition that occurs when certain teeth in the mouth fail to develop at all and thus never erupt. When the missing tooth or teeth is one of the central incisors, also called the two front teeth, there are significant bite problems and cosmetic concerns that can occur. There are a few different ways that your general or cosmetic dentistry specialist can treat the hypodontia so that you have more comfortable chewing and a beautiful smile.
Spacer and Braces
If your hypodontia has created crowding or another type of bite issue that requires straightening, your treatment process might start with orthodontics. The dentist can use spacers or a miniature dental implant root in the gap of the missing incisor so that the straightening teeth don't push straight into that spot. Once orthodontic treatment is complete, the spacer or implant root is removed so that a more permanent dental replacement can be placed.
If you are an adult patient, ask your orthodontist if clear braces are an option so that you don't' have to walk around with a mouth full of metal as your teeth are straightening.
Dental Implants
If your only missing tooth or teeth are the central incisors, your dentist might recommend dental implants as the best dental replacement option for your situation. A dental implant looks natural but more importantly for a central incisor, which plays a vital role in biting into and holding onto food, a dental implant is fairly stable due to its bone-supported root.
You will still want to use caution and not bite into overly hard foods such as apples or corn on the cob with the implant tooth. Repeated, hard pressure risks loosening the crown and even the root over time. You don't' want to have to pay for a dental implant replacement soon after having the procedure done.
Partial Denture with Implant Roots
Do you have multiple missing teeth in the same mouth region as the missing incisor? Your dentist might recommend a set of partial dentures, which feature a series of artificial teeth suspended on a rigid plate that includes holes so that your existing teeth can fit through the plate.
Traditional partial dentures only sit on the gums and use the natural teeth and hooks around the natural teeth on each end as the anchors. That setup doesn't provide enough stability to replace a central incisor. Your dentist might instead recommend implant support partial dentures, which include dental implant roots at least on each end to hold the plate steadier while chewing.
Share22 April 2016
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.