Rare teeth: causes, treatment methods, photos

There are several types of malocclusion. Rare teeth are the most common. It is characterized by the presence of very wide spaces between dental units. At the same time, the chewing structures are externally similar to a comb with sparse teeth. This pathological condition cannot be ignored, as it can lead to the development of dangerous complications. Currently, there are several methods for treating rare teeth (a photo of the defect is presented below). The feasibility of using a particular method is assessed by the orthodontist.

Causes and consequences

The “culprit” of the pathology is a genetic factor. Large distances between chewing units are noticeable already at the stage of eruption of milk teeth. In extremely rare cases, pathology develops against the background of progression of dental diseases.

Rare teeth in humans are not only unsightly, but also dangerous to health. Initially, psycho-emotional instability appears. It is caused by complexes that have arisen and low self-esteem.

In addition, sparse teeth cause the following pathological conditions:

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Wide spaces between dental units do not allow for proper chewing of food. As a result, food enters the stomach in an insufficiently processed form. The natural consequence is indigestion.
Tooth loss. Chewing units located far from each other are characterized by increased fragility. In addition, they are extremely vulnerable to any external influences.
Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. When there are large gaps between teeth, soft tissues also become more vulnerable to external influences. They are easily injured, and when pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the oral cavity, an inflammatory process develops.

To prevent the development of complications and make your smile perfect, you need to contact an orthodontist. Only a doctor can provide information on how to correct rare teeth in each specific case.

Reasons causing anomalies

Anomalies of the dental system are very diverse and include both anomalies of dental units and incorrect formation of the dentition, as well as abnormalities in the development of the jaws. The most frequently diagnosed abnormalities of dental units. They can be caused by a wide variety of reasons, including both exogenous (caused by external factors) and endogenous (formed as a result of the physiological state of the patient).

Endogenous causes

Endogenous anomalies are formed as a result of genetic and endocrine disorders.

Many structural features of the dental system, leading to improper development of teeth, are genetically determined. This can occur through direct inheritance (abnormal number and shape of teeth, edentia, diastema), through inheritance of a mismatch in the size of the jaw bones, through inheritance of a mismatch in the size of the jaw and teeth (crowding of teeth or sparse arrangement of teeth). Dental anomalies of this type include disorders associated with hereditary and congenital pathologies (clefts of the soft and hard palate, cleft lip, Down syndrome, Vaanderburg syndrome, Seckel syndrome, Shershevsky-Turner syndrome).
Another part of the endogenous causes of dental anomalies are problems of the endocrine system, such as hypothyroidism (in later stages), hyperparathyroidism, hypocortisolism. Their frequent symptoms may be delays in the eruption and replacement of teeth, and disturbances in the formation of the enamel layer.

Exogenous causes

Exogenous (external) causes of dental anomalies are, for the most part, external unfavorable factors that affect the baby’s body during the formation of tooth germs. There are prenatal (prenatal), postnatal (postpartum) and intranatal (associated with childbirth) periods.

An example of a prenatal factor is a pregnant woman living in poor environmental conditions. Various developmental disorders of the fetus can also occur as a result of the mother’s poor lifestyle.
Factors in the intranatal period may include complicated labor, birth injuries, consequences of asphyxia and oligohydramnios.
In the postnatal period, dental anomalies develop as a complication of pathologies in early childhood. These include childhood infections, rickets, hypovitaminosis, and micronutrient deficiency.

All these reasons are of a common nature. Local factors that affect dental development include everything related to improper oral care, feeding errors or bad habits. Among them are feeding too soft food, prolonged sucking of a pacifier or finger in early childhood.

Childhood injuries and caries with complications lead to dental anomalies.

The death of tooth germs or the development of supernumerary teeth can occur due to osteomyelitis.

Diagnostics

After the examination, the orthodontist will refer the patient for a comprehensive examination. Based on its results, the doctor will be able to make a decision on what to do with the rare teeth of the person who contacts him.

Diagnosis may include the following studies:

Orthopantomogram. This is a three-dimensional shot of the jaws.
X-ray examination.
Computer diagnostics. The method is considered the most accurate and informative. It allows you to evaluate both the structure of the jaw and the location of the teeth.

Based on the diagnostic results, the orthodontist will select the most effective method of treating rare teeth. It is important to understand that it is impossible to correct the genetic factor, but doctors are able to disguise the defect so that the patient’s smile is perfect. Contrary to popular belief, if adults have sparse teeth, braces are powerless. This method of correcting the bite is not used if a person has large distances between the teeth.

Color anomalies

Healthy, young teeth look snow-white due to a thick dentin layer and high-quality enamel, which has sufficient characteristics of whiteness, shine and transparency. Lifestyle, age, genetic factors, and ecology can slightly change the color of teeth from bluish to yellow. Small deviations are not considered pathology, although they indicate a change in the quality of the enamel.

Various pathological processes occurring in the body have a more significant impact on the condition of the enamel. The cause may be carious lesions, the use of medications, or a lack of certain microelements in the body. Teeth can take on a gray, pinkish, brown, purple and even black tint.

When starting to treat a patient, the dentist excludes the development of chronic pathologies. After a course of therapy and stable remission is achieved, other causes of discoloration of the enamel are eliminated. The final stage of treatment is a course of teeth whitening.

Specialists at the Consilium Dent choose the enamel lightening technique together with the patient. The selection criteria are age, condition of the enamel, and the wishes of the patient.

Dental implantation

The technique is the most radical. The essence of the procedure is to replace rare dental units with prostheses. The latter are screwed into the jaw using a titanium pin that imitates a tooth root.

The main advantage of implants is that they are as similar as possible to natural chewing units and fully perform the functions of the latter. As a result, food is chewed efficiently and the load between the teeth is distributed evenly. As a result, the process of forming a correct bite begins.

In addition, implanted teeth are permanent. In other words, they do not need to be removed and cared for separately.

Dental implantation is contraindicated if the patient has type II diabetes mellitus, HIV, hepatitis and severe heart pathologies.

Anomalies of hard tissue structure

An altered shape, abnormal size or color of enamel is formed against the background of an abnormality in the structure of the hard tissues of the dental unit. Among such anomalies are:

Hypoplasia (underdevelopment of tissue). The initial degree of the disorder is manifested by the presence of chalky spots on the enamel and areas where tissue deficiency is observed. Subsequently, all kinds of pits, grooves, and recesses appear on the surface of the enamel. The defect affects all teeth in the dentition.
Hyperplasia (excessive tissue formation). Pathology also affects all teeth at the same time. It is characterized by areas where tissue growth is observed - tubercles, sagging enamel. The consequence of the pathology is a change in the shape and size of the teeth, a violation of the occlusion (the line of contact of the upper and lower jaws).
Anomalies of amelogenesis (enamel formation) are expressed in the presence of brown or yellow spots on the surface of the teeth. Areas where the natural composition of the enamel is disrupted become especially sensitive. Microdentia develops against the background of pathology. The cause of the development of pathology is a deficiency of microelements that take part in the formation of dental tissue. Treatment consists of replenishing this deficiency. Additionally, local remineralizing therapy and physiotherapy are performed.
Disturbance of dentinogenesis consists of dysfunction of the mechanism of dentin formation. The main symptoms of the disease are as follows: teeth become yellow-brown or grayish in color. The fragile dentin in these areas quickly wears off, causing tooth decay and then tooth loss. The disease occurs in genetically predisposed patients. The problem can only be solved by replacing the units destroyed by the disease with prosthetics.

Installation of a bridge

The use of fixed orthodontic structures is a modern way to fill wide gaps in the dentition.

In order for the prosthesis to be securely fixed, it is necessary to have supporting dental units. It is on them that the entire structure is attached.

The best option is to make a bridge from metal ceramics. The service life of this design is 7 years or more. At the same time, the bridge retains its original shade and does not differ from adjacent natural teeth.

Contraindications to installing a prosthesis on rare teeth:

Acute periodontitis.
Parafunctions of the masticatory muscles.
Insufficient height of supporting teeth.

If there are absolute contraindications, the doctor makes a decision regarding the advisability of using a different treatment method.

Shape anomalies

There are pathologies in the development of dental units, due to which they acquire an unnatural shape. These disorders are named after the scientists who first described them. The following types of dental shape anomalies are found: spiny teeth, Pflueger teeth, Fournier teeth, Hutchinson teeth.

Spiked or awl-shaped teeth. With this pathology, the teeth acquire a cone-shaped shape. Wide at the base, they gradually narrow and, towards the cutting edge, become sharpened into a spike shape. This problem is combined with microdentia. There are irregularities and stains on the surface of the teeth. The disease affects the front and lateral incisors. The disease occurs in childhood and is caused by genetic factors in combination with external factors. Among them are vitamin D deficiency and endocrine system problems.
Hutchinson's teeth are characterized by a modified crown shape of the incisors. Externally, they have the shape of a barrel, since the neck is significantly thickened. The cutting edge of the teeth acquires an arched notch. The enamel layer also suffers, which is present only on the sides and absent in the center.
Fournier's teeth are a form of systemic hypoplasia of dental units associated with metabolic disorders at the stage of intrauterine development of the fetus. The barrel-shaped shape of the teeth is preserved, but the notch of the incisal edge is absent. The color of the enamel is not disturbed, but the enamel layer is underdeveloped, which can be seen during microscopic examination.
Pflueger's teeth are a disorder that affects permanent dental units. Their crowns take on a conical shape. Thickening develops in the cervical region, and the chewing surface is significantly underdeveloped. The chewing function of the teeth is completely preserved.
Turner anomaly. With this pathology, there is no enamel on the teeth. They have an abnormally lumpy surface, and replacement tissue, dentin, forms in the exposed areas.

Systemic hypoplasia with a violation of the shape of the teeth has three degrees of development. The third degree is the most dangerous, in which the crown is severely deformed and the enamel layer decreases. In this case, the defective teeth are removed and replaced with dentures. It is also possible to restore affected teeth using reflective components.

Sealing

Currently, it is one of the most affordable ways to treat rare teeth. Its wide distribution is due to its low cost and ease of implementation.

The essence of the method is as follows: fillings of the same color as the natural chewing units are applied to the teeth. The procedure is considered a jewelry procedure, since the doctor must literally mold new bone structures. As a result, the teeth become wider and the gaps between them disappear. Only a specialist can visually distinguish fillings from natural dental units.

During the procedure, orthodontists use only high-quality materials. These are ceramics and porcelain.

After filling rare teeth, the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is normalized and a correct bite begins to form.

Installation of veneers

This is a highly effective correction method. Veneers are thin plates made of ceramic or porcelain. They are placed on top of natural teeth.

The main advantage of the method is that the plates cover and protect the enamel coating of the dental units. In other words, there is no need to grind or file down adjacent teeth.

Contraindications for installing veneers:

Severe destruction of dental units from the tongue.
The presence of large fillings.
Grinding of teeth.
Having a bad habit of opening bottles with your teeth, cracking nuts with them, etc.

In addition, veneers cannot be installed if six or more chewing units are missing from the mouth.

Position anomalies

Incorrect position of teeth always develops as a consequence of another pathology and forms an incorrect bite. May affect one or both jaws. Incorrect position of teeth makes chewing food and oral hygiene difficult. This can lead to digestive problems and the development of cavities. There are several options for the pathological position of teeth within or outside the dentition:

External or vestibular position means that the tooth is located outside the dentition, closer to the vestibule of the mouth. This position is typical for canines and incisors and develops as a serious cosmetic defect.
Oral or internal position. The teeth are deviated inward closer to the tongue. The disorder is typical for canines, incisors and premolars. May cause tongue injuries and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint.
Mesial and distal position. Dental units are displaced forward or backward along the dentition, which leads to its shortening.
Supra and infraocclusion are high or low positions of teeth relative to the occlusal curve. The cause of the disorder is underdevelopment of the alveolar process. It appears due to the presence of some obstacle that interferes with the normal formation of the tooth germ. Effective therapy is surgery.
Tortoanomaly. The tooth is rotated around a vertical axis. The disorder is typical for incisors, canines, and premolars. The anomaly can cause injury to adjacent teeth. Dental units are rotated into the correct position using orthodontic structures.
Transposition. The teeth change their location with each other. The disease affects canines that exchange places with premolars or lateral incisors. The disorder develops at the stage of tooth germ formation. The therapy is as follows: problematic teeth are removed followed by prosthetics.
Crowding of teeth occurs due to lack of space when tooth germs are located too closely. Crowded teeth are closely adjacent to each other and rotate around their axis. Occurs in combination with macrodentia or with an undeveloped basal part. To eliminate the violation, some dental units are removed.
Diastemas and tremas are wide spaces between teeth. The disorder develops as a consequence of an abnormal shape and size. The problem is treated with orthodontic methods or by installing veneers, which helps restore the aesthetics of the smile.

Misaligned teeth cannot always be cured using braces. Severe pathology, which is characterized by a skeletal disorder of the maxillofacial region, is treated with surgical reconstruction. The pathological fragment is transferred to the desired position and then secured. A fragment containing part of the dentition or the entire dentition can be used.

Installation of crowns

These are non-removable structures that can be used to eliminate dental defects. The installation of crowns is also indicated in case of severe destruction of dental units. The essence of the method is to insert an artificial tooth into the gum using a pin made of metal.

Installing crowns requires some preparation. The patient's natural teeth are prepared and, if necessary, pulp removal is performed. Crowns take several days to make. During this period, the patient is provided with temporary structures. The finished crowns are completely identical to the patient’s teeth. They differ only in width, which makes it possible to hide large gaps between chewing units.

The following conditions are contraindications: loose teeth, allergic reaction to the components used, periodontal pathologies. In addition, crowns are not placed on anyone under 16 years of age.

Rare teeth in a child

Radical treatment methods are not used for children. In addition, a child under 5 years old just needs to be monitored. This is due to the fact that after teething, the jaw continues to grow, so there must be gaps between the dental units. This is a normal physiological process. It is necessary to consult a doctor only if the space between the teeth remains very wide after the eruption of all milk teeth.

Children may have braces. In most cases, after such an adjustment, the teeth will take the required position, and the distance between them will decrease.

If the cosmetic defect remains pronounced even after removing the braces, the doctor may recommend filling or installation of veneers. The advantage of these methods is that there is no need to prepare natural teeth. It is recommended to give preference to the installation of veneers. Thin plates can not only hide empty areas, but also protect the enamel from the harmful effects of external factors.