baby teeth | Queen City Dental Arts https://www.queencitydentist.com Mon, 26 Jun 2023 13:11:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 Unlocking the Mystery of Hypodontia: Exploring the Missing Teeth Phenomenon https://www.queencitydentist.com/unlocking-the-mystery-of-hypodontia-exploring-the-missing-teeth-phenomenon/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 06:06:23 +0000 https://www.queencitydentist.com/?p=494 It seems like common sense; baby teeth fall out, adult teeth come in. But sometimes there are certain teeth that don’t ever come in, and it’s not because they’re impacted or stuck in the gums. When this happens, it could be because a tooth is congenitally missing, which means a person is actually born without [...]

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]]> It seems like common sense; baby teeth fall out, adult teeth come in. But sometimes there are certain teeth that don’t ever come in, and it’s not because they’re impacted or stuck in the gums. When this happens, it could be because a tooth is congenitally missing, which means a person is actually born without a permanent tooth. Another word for this is “hypodontia”, which is the medical term for being born without some of your teeth. Some people with hypodontia are missing one tooth, and others can be missing multiple teeth.

You may have a congenitally missing tooth or know someone with a congenitally missing tooth. In fact, between 2% and 8% of the population has this dental condition. Any tooth can be congenitally missing, but more often than not, it happens to upper lateral incisors and lower second premolars. It appears that having a congenitally missing tooth is often passed down through genetics, but it is also more likely to happen with certain conditions, including cleft lip, cleft palate and Down Syndrome.

Having a congenitally missing tooth, especially in the front of your smile, can be reason to be self-conscious, but missing teeth can also potentially lead to other dental problems, like trouble eating, bone loss and shifting of other teeth. Fortunately, with today’s dental advancements, we have the ability to replace missing teeth. The first step is to visit us at Queen City Dental Arts in Charlotte, North Carolina. We’d be happy to discuss options with you to get on your way to a healthier, natural-looking smile. We invite you to schedule a consultation with our experienced dentist, Dr. Meghan Stenvall to learn more about treating missing teeth in your smile. Please call 704-542-6533 today!

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]]> Why “Fix” Baby Teeth? https://www.queencitydentist.com/why-fix-baby-teeth/ Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:51:50 +0000 https://www.queencitydentist.com/?p=450 So often we think of “baby” or primary teeth as not being important. However, the complete opposite is actually true! Remember, those primary teeth are holding everything in place and preparing the mouth for the permanent or “adult” teeth that will come in later. If primary teeth are lost too early, due to decay or [...]

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]]> So often we think of “baby” or primary teeth as not being important. However, the complete opposite is actually true! Remember, those primary teeth are holding everything in place and preparing the mouth for the permanent or “adult” teeth that will come in later. If primary teeth are lost too early, due to decay or other reasons, your child’s smile loses that space holder. Permanent teeth can then come in misplaced or misaligned. Also, if a primary tooth is left untreated with ongoing decay, it can cause infection, which can then cause damage to the permanent, unerupted tooth coming in behind it. So even though these primary teeth will eventually fall out, you still want to make sure to take care of any current cavities on those baby teeth!

Why Fix Baby Teeth

Our Queen City Dental Arts team is here to help your child’s smile develop properly for a healthier smile down the road. Our dedicated dentist, Dr. Meghan Stenvall is more than happy to evaluate your child’s dental health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and provide the dental care they need to keep their primary teeth healthy and in place. Please us a call today at 704-542-6533 with any questions or concerns you have regarding your child’s growing smile!

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