Hyperdontia—Too Many Teeth

Hyperdontia—Too Many Teeth

When children are born, most will have 20 primary teeth and 32 permanent teeth in their jaws, waiting to erupt at the appropriate time. Some children, however—approximately 1% to 4% of the population—will have additional teeth, a condition known as hyperdontia; the extra tooth is known as a supernumerary tooth. Most children with the condition are otherwise healthy—that means we can usually ensure a good outcome.

There is no clear cause of hyperdontia, but it probably has a genetic basis. While most children with hyperdontia will have just one supernumerary tooth, others may have several. Those children with more than one extra tooth may suffer from other conditions, such as Gardner syndrome (cancerous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract), cleft lip and palate, or Ehler-Danlos syndrome (a disorder of the connective tissue).

Although not all children with extra teeth have negative outcomes, hyperdontia can cause a number of problems, including

• delayed eruption and growth of adjacent teeth
• irregular alignment of teeth
• bite problems

While extra teeth will not automatically cause damage to the mouth or require removal, they should always be monitored. Dr. Jared will make the best decision for treatment based on the location of the tooth and other factors. Your child’s extra tooth might look abnormal or it could look completely normal. Treatment depends on the tooth’s appearance, whether it’s crowding other teeth and how it erupted.

We will check to see whether the extra tooth is likely to prevent future teeth from erupting or cause a nearby one to shift or rotate. It is important that your child see us early on, because parents can’t always detect an extra tooth. A visit to KiDDS Dental within six months of your child’s first tooth’s eruption and regular visits afterward will ensure that hyperdontia and any related problems are detected early.

For some children, orthodontic treatment can be a successful treatment for hyperdontia. Other children may require extraction of the additional tooth, especially if it causes crowding in the mouth. After examining your child’s teeth, we can determine whether he or she has hyperdontia and what is the best course of treatment.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Hunt Down Plaque at Home

Hunt Down Plaque at Home

If your child brushes and flosses regularly, you probably feel confident that his or her oral health is under control. Unfortunately, that may not be the case. Plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that destroys tooth enamel and causes decay and gum disease, may still be lurking—and since this substance is invisible to the naked eye, you will have no idea that it is there.

Luckily, several products on the market can help identify hidden areas of plaque, so your child can focus on those areas and brush to remove the damaging film before it wreaks havoc on his or her smile.

Two plaque-identifying products can help you see what you normally cannot:

• a reddish dye that adheres to plaque
• a special ultraviolet light that reveals plaque’s hiding places

Plaque-revealing dye

Your child brushes and flosses as usual. Then, he or she either swishes a special mouthrinse or chews a special tablet and swishes the saliva around the mouth for about 30 seconds. After he or she spits out, look into your child’s mouth to see where the dye has settled. The stains reveal areas that need to be brushed again to get rid of missed plaque.

Plaque-revealing light

Your child brushes, flosses and then swishes around the mouth a special fluorescent solution that colors the plaque a bright orange yellow. After your child rinses his or her mouth with water, the dentist can examine the teeth and gums with a special ultraviolet light that allows the unremoved plaque to be seen and removed by further brushing.

Both methods are perfectly safe, but the plaque-revealing light method does not leave stains on your child’s teeth. The dye method may leave some residue; it’s best to use these dyes at night, so any stains can fade by the morning.

These plaque-identifying tools will help you hunt down nasty plaque that would otherwise attack your child’s teeth. If you are unsure about how to use these products or if their use has revealed extensive plaque, Dr. Jared can show you how to search for this sticky substance at home. Learning good oral habits while young can lead to your child’s maintaining healthy teeth and gums for life.

We’d love to meet you and your family! Give us a call at (509)-891-7070 to schedule today!