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Tooth enamel hypoplasia is a common disease that occurs in both children and adults. However, this is still a relatively foreign dental concept for many people. The following article will provide the complete information to get an overview of treatment and prevention.
What is tooth enamel hypoplasia? Symptoms of Tooth Enamel Hypoplasia
Enamel hypoplasia is a phenomenon in which the enamel structure is defective or incomplete during the period of enamel formation, leading to a deficiency in the amount of enamel. Enamel hypoplasia is classified into two types according to the cause of the disease, which are genetic and environmental factors, specifically.
Enamel hypoplasia affects both baby teeth and permanent teeth. Congenital hypoplasia is divided into three types, which are:
- Yeast hypoplasia: Abnormal phenomenon that occurs during the formation of the organic framework.
- Less Mineralized Form: Abnormalities occur during the organic framework mineralization phase.
- Immature form: Abnormalities occur during the maturation of the organic framework.
Enamel hypoplasia due to environmental impacts is caused by ecological factors affecting enamel-producing cells, which can affect the baby and permanent teeth. The disease affects both dentin and enamel to varying degrees.
Symptoms of the disease
- Symptoms of enamel hypoplasia may include the following:
- Incomplete enamel, soft, easily broken to reveal the dentin layer underneath.
- Tooth enamel hypoplasia in children will cause the baby’s milk teeth to become crumbly, gradually truncated, often lost near the roots, and easily broken.
- The tooth surface appears scattered with black, yellow, or brown spots. This condition will get worse and worse and cannot be corrected with conventional teeth whitening methods.
- Enamel hypoplasia due to infection or trauma during tooth formation. Teeth may change to a light brown color, and indentations appear on the surface of the teeth.
- Tooth sensitivity, pain when eating hot or cold food. The sensitivity increases with the progression of the disease. In the early stages, only mild pain appears, and over time, it will become long-lasting pain that significantly affects the patient’s life and activities.
- In the case of prolonged enamel decline, the patient’s roots will have problems with erosion close to the gums. That can lead to receding gums, allowing tooth decay to develop.
What causes enamel hypoplasia?
Causes of enamel hypoplasia are also divided into two groups, specifically as follows:
Due to genetic factors: The cause comes from the gene passed down from generation to generation in the family.
Due to environmental impact: Causes will include factors as follows:
- The mother is not provided with enough calcium and flour during pregnancy, or the children are not supplemented with these substances in the diet, which is the cause of the baby’s baby teeth being hypoplastic.
- The diet lacks vitamins A, C, and D.
- Some diseases can cause symptoms of enamel hypoplasia, such as syphilis, chickenpox, measles, and scarlet fever.
- Trauma or infection during tooth formation.
- Improper dental hygiene causes the enamel layer to be eroded. At the same time, the teeth are not supplemented with calcium and fluoride from the outside, weakening the enamel layer.
- Using foods and drinks containing acidic ingredients for a long time causes tooth enamel to erode.
Is enamel hypoplasia dangerous? Which subjects are susceptible?
In patients with tooth enamel hypoplasia, the enamel layer does not form enough and is very soft, thin, and easily broken, exposing the underlying dentin layer. In addition, on the surface of the teeth will also appear white, opaque yellow or black spots that significantly affect the aesthetics. This disease will reduce the chewing function of the teeth, causing discomfort when eating.
Tooth enamel hypoplasia can occur in both adults and children to varying degrees. Once the enamel has been lost, it cannot be restored, leading to many other serious consequences. Therefore, when you notice that your teeth appear abnormal symptoms above, visit your doctor for an examination and treatment plan.
People at high risk of developing tooth enamel hypoplasia include:
- Mothers with poor nutrition during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children with enamel hypoplasia.
- People who use drinking water with high fluoride concentration (more than 4mg/l for adults and 2mg/l for children) have a higher risk of developing tooth enamel diseases.
- People with a poor diet.
- People consume a lot of acidic, alkaline foods that destroy tooth enamel.
The treatments
Doctors will offer appropriate solutions to prevent and treat tooth decay, preserve tooth structure, maintain chewing function and restore teeth aesthetically. Current treatments for enamel hypoplasia include:
Fluoride supplement
In the case of patients with mild enamel hypoplasia, the doctor will guide fluoride supplements to improve the condition of tooth enamel. You can supplement with fluoride in two ways: topical and systemic.
- Use topically: This is a method of applying fluoride directly to tooth enamel through products such as toothpaste, and fluoride-containing mouthwash, used daily.
- Systemic use: Use through absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, explicitly using table salt, tablets or drops. Note that this method is only applicable at a time, do not add fluoride in multiple ways simultaneously because fluoride can cause poisoning.
Fillings
Dental fillings are an effective method to help compensate for damaged enamel, help strengthen teeth and restore the aesthetics of teeth.
Porcelain dental veneers
Porcelain veneers are a comprehensive treatment solution that brings the most lasting effect, especially for severe cases. Porcelain crowns on the outside protect tooth enamel from external influences while ensuring the ability to chew and high aesthetics.
Please visit Dentist Louisiana regularly and update helpful information to care for your teeth.
