Are Dental Implants an Option for Congenitally Missing Teeth?

Hypodontia refers to a person who does not develop one to six teeth. Third molars, wisdom teeth, are the most common congenitally missing teeth, but even excluding these teeth, nearly 10% of people are effected by hypdontia. Other commonly missing teeth are maxillary (upper jaw) laterals, the teeth on either side of the front teeth, and mandibular (lower jaw) premolars, the teeth on either side of the canines. For patients who do not develop these teeth, ordinary activities like chewing and speaking present increased challenge.  At Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer numerous tooth replacement and orthodontic options to restore smiles.

Treatment Options and Timeline

For many patients, the key to successful treatment of hypodontia is timing. As dental structures develop, teeth shift, bites change, and treatment options should be flexible too. After examining your smile, our team makes treatment recommendations appropriate to your specific case, stage of dental development, and personal preferences. Some of the treatment options we may recommend include:

• Orthodontic treatments may be a great first step in creating a properly aligned smile.
• Traditional crown and bridge tooth replacement utilizing surrounding teeth for support may be an option to replace one or two consecutive missing teeth, but if patients’ existing teeth are not strong enough, a dental crown supported fixed bridge may not be the right treatment option.
• A removable partial dentures is a good option for patients who have three or more missing teeth. While these restorations rely on surrounding teeth for support, they do not necessitate the removal of existing dental structure.
• Dental implant retained restorations are another great way to replace congenitally missing teeth. Some patients may need to undergo bone grafting to prepare jawbones to support dental restoration.

Benefits of Dental Implant Restoration

Unlike other tooth replacement options, implant retained tooth replacements restore the entire tooth from the roots up. This is important for any patient with missing teeth, but for those with congenitally missing teeth, replacing tooth roots becomes even more important. Since patients lacked the natural structure during development, creating a root structure is important to keeping natural teeth aligned, maintaining bone density, and supporting gum tissue and facial shape.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you have one or more congenitally missing teeth, contact the Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery team in Houston. We’re happy to create a custom smile restoration plan that meets your needs, and keeps a smile on your face.

by: Piney Point OMS at January 27, 2016.