9yr old with missing adult teeth

Toothsmith

Hi O-M,

Missing teeth is called partial anodontia. Basically it is a posh way of saying 'missing teeth'!

The most common teeth to be missing in people are wisdom teeth. After that are upper 2nd incisors, (The ones next to the middle ones) after that are lower second premolars.

It is pretty rare to have several teeth missing, but this is no comfort if you or a child are one of the ones affected.

On the plus side it has been spotted very young by a dentist who is obviously on the ball.

If it is spotted young, there are many more treatment options than if it is spotted late.

If spotted soon, then closing the gaps by orthodontics (Braces) is much easier. This can have the downside that the wrong shaped teeth can be in important places. Veneers or even slightly filing or reshaping the tooth with a little white filling can achieve very nice results quite easily.

If several teeth are absent, then implants may well come into the treatment at some point in the future. For a condition like anodontia in a child, it is possible that implants may be made available on the NHS. I wouldn't bank on this though, and if you could start some sort of saving policy now, it would give you a lot more treatment options in a few years time when something like this may have to be considered.

I can't really comment in great detail without knowing exactly what is going on. I think you and the dentist may well be seeing a lot of each other over the next few years.

In the end though, the result will be worth it.

outrageous_monkey

UPDATE:

X Ray was taken first thing this morning. It does look like his teeth are there, but they are quite high up. His 'fangs' are up near his nose, the lady who did the XRay (sorry, dont know correct terminology for that job) did say, that that was unusally high.

I'm just so relieved that his adult teeth are there, even if they are just high up. Hopefully in time they will work their way forward. There is a problem with overcrowding, but my son was put at ease as he was told, there was lots of money in his mouth, via the tooth fairy.

Thanks to everyone, for all your reponses:beer: . I feel rather silly for worrying so much:o .

anguk

My daughter had missing adult teeth and when she was 10 we were advised to have some baby teeth removed so that the adult teeth she had could "spread out" and fill the gaps. She had 6 baby teeth taken out at the dental hospital, her adult teeth have now come through and luckily there are no gaps so doesn't need a brace.