Is Your Tooth Missing? You Could Have Tooth Agenesis

Tooth agenesis happens when because of genetic and environmental factors, people are born missing some of their teeth.

In this case, certain teeth never develop and it can involve both primary and permanent teeth. Most commonly it affects permanent teeth.

There are three types of dental agenesis:

• Anodontia: Complete absence of teeth
• Hypodontia: Absence of one to six teeth
• Oligodontia: Absence of six more teeth

What Happens With Tooth Agenesis?

In most cases, it affects the lower second premolars, which are the teeth in front of your molars on the bottom. The next affected area is the upper second premolars, the teeth that are in front of your molars on the top. It can also affect the upper lateral incisors, which are the smaller teeth on either side of your top two front teeth.

Are There Any Symptoms?

If your tooth is small and peg-shaped, has gaps and spaces between your teeth, or are large, rectangular teeth that have extremely pulp chambers, also known as Taurodontic teeth.

Who Are At Risk?

Since it is also a symptom of genetic disorders, people with ectodermal dysplasia might also have:

• Hair thinning
• Nail abnormalities
• Lack of sweat glands
• Poor vision
• Hearing loss

Is There A Bright Side?

The ray of hope is that Japanese scientists were able to recreate these missing teeth in mice. In a 2021 paper titled Anti-USAG-1 therapy for tooth regeneration through enhanced BMP signalling available on National Library of Medicine's platform, Japanese scientists found that if a second gene is knocked out, called the USAG-1 gene, then the tooth could grow back.

What can be done according to the scientists is that antibodies can be created that block this gene in humans so the teeth could grow. The research is in its phase 1 trials, which means that soon there will be a positive result for it.

How Is It Treated Now?

Without positive results on trials, there are yet to be any medicines that can regrow teeth in humans, however, there are ways to manage tooth agenesis. These options include:

• Dentures
• Dental Bridges
• Dental Implants
• Orthodontic treatment, such as braces