4 Rare Dental Problems (and How to Deal with Them)

Most health issues in children are fairly straightforward. If they don’t brush and floss, they can get gum disease and cavities. If a tooth comes out, another one will take its place. But your child could develop complications that you may not have ever heard of. Don’t worry— even if you’re caught off guard by something, your dentist should be able to help. In that spirit, here’s a list of four rare oral health problems, and what an experienced professional could do to solve them.

#1: Anodontia

This is a rare genetic disorder that causes your child not to grow any teeth. The issue most commonly presents itself when your child’s adult teeth are supposed to come in. If six or more are missing the technical term is oligodontia, and if between one and six are affected it’s hypodontia.

Treatment: Anodontia is permanent, so the missing teeth will need to be replaced. It’s important to do this while your child is young, as gaps in your child’s smile can affect their ability to talk and their overall facial structure.

#2: Talon Cusps

These are small growths that can develop on the inner side of your child’s teeth. They look like small claws or talons, thus the name. If left untreated, talon cusps can contribute to malocclusion, gum irritation, or plaque buildup around the growth. Both adults and children can develop this issue, so be on the lookout no matter your age.

Treatment:  If the cusp doesn’t contain any tooth pulp, it can simply be ground down. If it does, your child might also require a root canal.

#3: Geminated Teeth

Like conjoined twins, but for your mouth. This problem occurs when two teeth sprout from the same bud and then fuse into one. These teeth are unusually prone to decay at the place where their two pulp chambers meet or can lead to overcrowding.

Treatment: Your dentist might just wait and see if the tooth sheds on its own. However, if it’s causing problems, they may recommend extraction.

#4: Hyperdontia

If anodontia is too few teeth, then hyperdontia is too many. Often these superfluous teeth don’t erupt, but instead develop in the gums where they delay or disrupt the growth of others.

Treatment: Extraction is usually the easiest choice. However, braces could potentially straighten out teeth made crooked by hyperdontia.

These issues may be rare but awareness of them definitely won’t hurt. If it turns out your child does have one of these disorders, you don’t need to be alarmed. Now that you know about them, you can communicate more effectively with their dentist, making them better able to deal with any issue your child may be facing.

About Our Practice

At West Hartford Dental Group, our team of qualified dental specialists can effectively deal with whatever may be ailing you. We also offer walk-in emergency appointments and give you access to cutting-edge dental technology to deliver the fastest pain relief possible. If you have questions about how to prevent a dental emergency, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (860) 236-4249.