Anodontia
Encyclopedia
In dentistry
, anodontia, also called anodontia vera, is a rare genetic disorder
characterized by the congenital
absence of all primary
or permanent
teeth
. It is associated with the group of skin
and nerve syndrome
s called the ectodermal dysplasia
s. Anodontia is usually part of a syndrome and seldom occurs as an isolated entity.
Anodontia is the congenital absence of teeth and can occur in some or all teeth (partial anodontia or hipodontia), involve two dentitions or only teeth of the permanent dentition (Dorland's 1998). Many denominations are attributed to this anomaly: partial anodontia, hypodontia, oligodontia, the congenital absence, anodontia, bilateral aplasia. Anodontia being the term used in controlled vocabulary Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) from MEDLINE
which was developed by the USA National Library of Medicine. The Anodontia of at least one permanent tooth is the most common dental anomaly and may contribute to masticator dysfunction, speech impairment, aesthetic problems, and malocclusion (Shapiro and Farrington 1983). Absence of lateral incisors represents a major stereotype. Individuals with this condition are perceived as socially most aggressive compared with people without anodontia (Shaw 1981).
Partial anodontia, known as hypodontia
or oligodontia, is the congenital absence of one or more teeth. Congenital absence of all wisdom teeth, or third molars
, is relatively common.
technology or dentures
. This treatment can be successful in giving patients with anodontia a more normal appearance.
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, anodontia, also called anodontia vera, is a rare genetic disorder
Genetic disorder
A genetic disorder is an illness caused by abnormalities in genes or chromosomes, especially a condition that is present from before birth. Most genetic disorders are quite rare and affect one person in every several thousands or millions....
characterized by the congenital
Congenital disorder
A congenital disorder, or congenital disease, is a condition existing at birth and often before birth, or that develops during the first month of life , regardless of causation...
absence of all primary
Deciduous teeth
Deciduous teeth, otherwise known as reborner teeth, baby teeth, temporary teeth and primary teeth, are the first set of teeth in the growth development of humans and many other mammals. In some Asian countries they are referred to as fall teeth as they will eventually fall out, while in almost all...
or permanent
Permanent teeth
Permanent teeth are the second set of teeth formed in humans. There are thirty-two permanent teeth, consisting of six maxillary and six mandibular molars, four maxillary and four mandibular premolars, two maxillary and two mandibular canines, four maxillary and four mandibular incisors.The first...
teeth
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
. It is associated with the group of skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
and nerve syndrome
Syndrome
In medicine and psychology, a syndrome is the association of several clinically recognizable features, signs , symptoms , phenomena or characteristics that often occur together, so that the presence of one or more features alerts the physician to the possible presence of the others...
s called the ectodermal dysplasia
Ectodermal dysplasia
Ectodermal dysplasia is not a single disorder, but a group of syndromes all deriving from abnormalities of the ectodermal structures. More than 150 different syndromes have been identified. Despite some of the syndromes having different genetic causes the symptoms are sometimes very similar...
s. Anodontia is usually part of a syndrome and seldom occurs as an isolated entity.
Anodontia is the congenital absence of teeth and can occur in some or all teeth (partial anodontia or hipodontia), involve two dentitions or only teeth of the permanent dentition (Dorland's 1998). Many denominations are attributed to this anomaly: partial anodontia, hypodontia, oligodontia, the congenital absence, anodontia, bilateral aplasia. Anodontia being the term used in controlled vocabulary Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) from MEDLINE
MEDLINE
MEDLINE is a bibliographic database of life sciences and biomedical information. It includes bibliographic information for articles from academic journals covering medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and health care...
which was developed by the USA National Library of Medicine. The Anodontia of at least one permanent tooth is the most common dental anomaly and may contribute to masticator dysfunction, speech impairment, aesthetic problems, and malocclusion (Shapiro and Farrington 1983). Absence of lateral incisors represents a major stereotype. Individuals with this condition are perceived as socially most aggressive compared with people without anodontia (Shaw 1981).
Partial anodontia, known as hypodontia
Hypodontia
In dentistry, hypodontia is the condition at which the patient has missing teeth as a result of their failure to develop. Hypodontia describes a situation where the patient is missing up to 6 teeth, excluding the 3rd molars. Missing third molars occur in 9-30% of population...
or oligodontia, is the congenital absence of one or more teeth. Congenital absence of all wisdom teeth, or third molars
Molar (tooth)
Molars are the rearmost and most complicated kind of tooth in most mammals. In many mammals they grind food; hence the Latin name mola, "millstone"....
, is relatively common.
Treatment
Prosthetic replacement of missing teeth is possible using dental implantDental implant
A dental implant is a "root" device, usually made of titanium, used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to replace missing teeth....
technology or dentures
Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and which are supported by surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable, however there are many different denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental...
. This treatment can be successful in giving patients with anodontia a more normal appearance.
See also
- HypodontiaHypodontiaIn dentistry, hypodontia is the condition at which the patient has missing teeth as a result of their failure to develop. Hypodontia describes a situation where the patient is missing up to 6 teeth, excluding the 3rd molars. Missing third molars occur in 9-30% of population...
, the condition at which the patient has missing teeth - HyperdontiaHyperdontiaHyperdontia is the condition of having supernumerary teeth, or teeth which appear in addition to the regular number of teeth.-Types:Supernumerary teeth can be classified by shape and by position...
, meaning more than the usual number of teeth.