Have You Heard of Oligodontia?

February 22, 2021

We’ve previously talked about anodontia and hypodontia … and now we’re going to touch on oligodontia.

What is oligodontia?

When someone is born without one or more teeth, it is referred to as “dental agenesis”, which is one of the most common congenital conditions. Oligodontia is a type of agenesis that causes you to be born without six or more teeth.

What are the different causes of absent teeth from birth?

• If the mother has a viral infection during pregnancy
• Exposure to radiation
• Genetic syndromes
• Inherited characteristics of the non-syndromatic form
• Benign and cancerous tumors (note: not everyone who has oligodontia is at a greater risk of cancer)

Since oligodontia has various underlying causes, people are affected in different ways. Some people may experience few to no symptoms. Others may notice changes to facial appearance, or difficulty chewing or speaking.

Your dentist or dental surgeon will be able to help guide you in the right direction in terms of treatment, which may involve dental implants, partial dentures, or fixed bridges.

We’d love to have you as a dental patient at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry. Learn more about getting Invisalign in Surrey to have the confident smile you’ve always wanted, as well as other cosmetic services, and restorative dental services. Call today at 604-593-8201.

 

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