Is there a link between hypodontia and ovarian cancer ?

There is emerging evidence that Hypodontia is a risk marker for Ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer ranks as the 8th commonest cancer in women and only 30% of patients survive as such it is the 5th leading cause of cancer amongst women. In a recent study 20% of ovarian cancer patients had signs of hypodontia. Please click on the link below which will take you to Anna Yu's presentation from the University of Kentucky.  

Click here for a presentation exploring the link.

Is hypodontia a wholly genetic condition ?

An article in the British Dental Journal from 2007 reviews current knowledge on the aetiological basis for hypodontia as well as various types of presentation and classification. Syndromes that are associated with congenitally missing teeth are also illustrated in a table. Click on the link below for the full article. 

Hypodontia-Is it all in the genes ?

Hypodontia is ideally treated in a multidisciplinary setting- A case report

The purpose of this article is to describe a team approach to treatment of hypodontia in adolescent dentition. A case report of hypodontia with a microdontic lateral incisor in a Class I malocclusion illustrates the principles of case management. Multidisciplinary consultation during treatment planning and coordination and appropriate timing of subsequent interdisciplinary dental care enables the clinician to provide the optimum care. The scope of orthodontic and restorative management depends on the severity of the hypodontia.

Multidisplinary management of hypodontia in adolescents: case report.

Hypodontia can be treated with adhesive techniques efficiently

Dr Samira Al-Salehi of the Dubai College of Dental Medicine has recently presented a case report illustrating the use of adhesive or 'sticky' dentistry to rehabilitate a patient presenting with mild to moderate hypodontia. A pdf of the article can be accessed on the below link.

Hypodontia Adhesive Techniques

Baby teeth can be built up to function like adult teeth

The Leeds restorative dentistry group have published a review illustrating how 'baby' teeth can be efficiently built up with white filling material to function like adult teeth. This procedure doesn't require the need for anaesthesia or tooth drilling and can be delivered easily. 

Leeds Dental Institute review on baby teeth being built up with white filling material

Patients with Hypodontia have different needs to other patients

The hypodontia team from the Eastman Dental Institute have published a review paper outlining the management needs of patients with hypodontia with specific reference to the dental, psycho-social, medical, functional, educational and financial implications that this diagnosis can bring. They identified the need for disease prevention as well as the management issues that can present during growth and development. The article can be accessed on the link below.

Counselling patients with Hypodontia

Which teeth are commonly missing in hypodontia patients ?

Some teeth are more likely to present with Hypodontia than others. Polder in 2004 published a meta-analysis that ill the differences between different teeth and their likelihood of being missing. In the order of most commonly missing moving down to least commonly missing.

1. Mandibular second premolar
2. Maxillary lateral incisor
3. Maxillary second premolar
4. Mandibular central incisor
5. Mandibular lateral incisor
6. Maxillary first premolar
7. Mandibular second molar
8. Maxillary canine
9. Mandibular first molar
10. Maxillary Central incisor

Pubmed abstract to the full paper here.

Why overcomplicate hypodontia treatment?

A recent research article in the International Journal of Dental Sciences and Research emphasised the importance of non-destructive restorative management of missing teeth. A good aesthetic outcome was achieved with bonded white composite fillings and resin bonded bridges (sticky bridges). After 4 years of fixed orthodontics, a good aesthetic result can be achieve with minimal intervention, non-tooth destructive restorative treatment in a relatively short period of time.

Click on the link below for the full article:

http://pubs.sciepub.com/ijdsr/3/2A/1/

This post was by Lakshmi Rasaratnam, StR in Restorative Dentistry, Kings College Hospital. l.rasaratnam@nhs.net

Hypodontia is a common problem amongst Cleft lip palate patients

A recent dental review from Malaysia  has reminded dental professionals and informed patients that hypodontia is a common problem amongst patients who present with cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip and palate is a group of conditions that includes cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and both together. A cleft lip is an opening in the upper lip that may extend into the nose. The opening may be on one side, both sides, or in the middle. 

These disorders can result in feeding problems, speech problems, hearing problems, and frequent ear infections. Less than half the time the condition is associated with other disorders. One of the most significant problems is that of difficulties in eating due to the opening in the mouth and the routine absence of teeth near the opening. 

Click on the link to be taken to the article.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4438093/pdf/mjms-22

Scottish research shows how common hypodontia is !

Recent research from Aberdeen Dental School has shed new light on how common (incidence/prevalence) 
Hypodontia is. Approximately 6.5% of the worlds population has hypodontia but this can vary by continent. Hypodontia was most common in Africa: 13.4%, followed by Europe 7%, Asia 6.3% and Australia 6.3%with a lower prevalence in North America 5.0% CI: 4.1–5.9 and Latin America and Caribbean 4.4%. 

Click on the link below for the published paper. 

http://www.maneyonline.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1179/1465313314Y.0000000116