Writer: Daneeya Sheeraz
Outline
What is Anodontia?
You can probably imagine being born without teeth. But can you imagine never growing any? Anodontia is a rare congenital condition that results in a complete absence of teeth. As it is congenital, those affected are born with it. Anodontia patients are unable to grow natural teeth throughout their lifetime.
Some people with tooth agenesis (congenital absence of one or more teeth) may be affected by partial anodontia such as oligodontia (congenital absence of more than six teeth) and hypodontia (absence of one or more teeth, excluding third molars). Moreover, false anodontia may also occur. This is the absence of teeth due to injury or extraction amongst other causes and is not congenital.
Anodontia often presents accompanied by ectodermal dysplasia and is more likely to occur in women than men. While prevalence is currently unknown due to the rarity of the condition, it affects permanent teeth in 2 to 8 percent of the population and primary teeth in 0.1 to 0.7 percent.
Causes of Anodontia
Anodontia is the result of a genetic mutation that affects the lamina. The lamina is a tissue underneath the gums where tooth formation takes place. The condition is passed down in an autosomal recessive pattern. This means that the child inherits one copy of the mutated gene from each parent. Therefore, even if the parents do not have the condition, they may still be carriers and pass it on to their children.
Signs and Symptoms
The major symptom, of course, is a total lack of teeth. However, as it is very rare for anodontia to occur without ectodermal dysplasia, other symptoms may be present. These may include poor vision, poor hearing, cleft lip, cleft palate, thin hair, and missing sweat glands and fingernails.
Diagnosis
If your baby has not developed deciduous teeth by the age of thirteen months or if a child has not developed adult teeth by the ages of ten to twelve years old, it is recommended to see your primary healthcare provider or dentist as anodontia could be present.
To confirm or deny the suspicion, dental X-rays are taken to look for teeth that may have not emerged yet. If none are present, the most probable conclusion is anodontia.
Treatment and Prevention
As anodontia is a genetic condition, there is no way to prevent it. However, there are two to three possible routes of treatment.
Dentures can be used. They are removable and replace the absent teeth. They may be adhered to gums with dental adhesives to make them stay in place. Dentures are a suitable option for both children and adults affected by anodontia. Due to constantly changing oral and facial features in children, dentures may have to be resized and replaced every couple of years until growth and development comes to a halt.
Additionally, dental implants are also an option. Dental implants are posts that are placed by a surgeon in place of missing roots. When the implants heal, dental bridges or dentures can be fixed to them. Facial growth and development must be completed for dental implants to be placed, therefore they are recommended for adults only. Children may wear dentures until they can get implants.
Living with Anodontia
Though the condition is not life-threatening, it may severely lower the quality of life if it remains untreated. It can cause issues with eating and speech. Dietary disorders, damage to gums, and poor jaw development are other consequences. As it is difficult to chew food properly, digestive problems may also occur. Furthermore, there may also be psychological effects like low self-esteem.
In conclusion, while anodontia is rare and not life-threatening, it is a congenital disease that can be hard to live with, and seeking treatment is vital. Since it is a genetic condition, it can be hard to prevent but is fairly simple to diagnose and manage.
Sources
“Anodontia: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 15 September 2022, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24168-anodontia.
“Ectodermal Dysplasia.” National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/ectodermal-dysplasia.
“Tooth Agenesis - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment | NORD.” National Organization for Rare Disorders, https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/anodontia/#disease-overview-main.
“Definition of autosomal recessive inheritance - NCI Dictionary of Genetics Terms - NCI.” National Cancer Institute, https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/genetics-dictionary/def/autosomal-recessive-inheritance.
Ardeshna, Toral. “Anodontia 101: Everything You Need to Know About the Rare Condition.” TruCare Dentistry, 19 July 2022, https://www.trucaredentistry.com/blog/anodontia-101-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-rare-condition/.
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