Why are dental terms sometimes so scary? Even calling the sharp teeth in the
front of the mouth “canines” can make you think of a snarling wolf with dripping
fangs! Frightening, huh?
We will examine some dental conditions whose names sound alarming, and let
you know if they are really something to worry about. These names do have a
purpose: they help our dental professionals know exactly what they are treating!
Now, that’s more than a mouthful of words! This term simply means extra teeth.
They can be found anywhere in the mouth and occur more often when the baby
teeth should come out, and the permanent teeth erupt. Another word for
supernumerary teeth is hyperdontia, and it’s seen twice as often in males than in
females.
The extra teeth can come in different types and shapes and can sometimes cause
pain in the teeth and swollen gums. They can also cause pressure on the teeth
near them and make them crooked. Dr. Culp will examine your child’s extra tooth
or teeth and discuss treatment options if they cause an issue with your child’s oral
health.
Oh, no! Where are my wisdom teeth?! Wisdom teeth (the third molars) got their
name because they usually break through behind the second molars in the late
teens or early twenties. At this age, people are considered to be “older and wiser”
than they were before. This is how the term “wisdom teeth” came to be.
Anytime something is missing, you may worry that there is a problem. However,
missing wisdom teeth is one instance where “missing” is just fine. Genetics
determines whether or not some people are missing one or more of their wisdom
teeth. While wisdom teeth don’t always need to be removed, if they cause pain or
come in irregularly, Dr. Culp will discuss options for removing them. If yours are
missing, that just means you don’t have to consider whether or not they will need
to be removed!
Yow! Talk about a scary sounding dental issue! This interesting genetic trait is
seen in Asian and Native American populations, and in Eskimo groups. It is
another reason to support the Alaskan land bridge theory of migration from the
Asian continent.
Dens evaginatus occurs on the chewing surface of the premolars and molars. It
looks like an extra bump or cusp and may not need to be treated. However, these
areas are more easily worn away while grinding foods. If the pulp chamber is
open to the surface, it can be painful (the nerve is exposed!), and the tooth pulp is
more susceptible to dental decay and other sources of infection.
If your child is complaining of pain or other bothersome issues, please set up an
appointment so they can be evaluated by Dr. Culp and properly treated if
necessary.
Didn’t we just cover this hair-raising topic? Nope, this is the opposite of our last
condition. Dens in dente is an anomaly in which the enamel of one or more teeth
folds into the underlying dentin as the teeth develop. The tooth can even consist
of what looks like a tooth inside a tooth!
To the untrained eye, the teeth and gums may not look any different than the
other visible teeth, but it sure looks cool on an X-ray! Dr. Culp and his team can
identify dens in dente this way and discuss whether treatment will be necessary
or if we’ll use the “wait and watch” approach.
Genetics, infectious disease, or trauma are some possible causes that may lead to
the rare condition. As with dens evaginatus, anthropologists have tracked the
evidence of the migration of humans from Asia to America through dens
invaginatus, as well.
This sounds like dental decay can sneak in even before a tooth erupts - and the
thought of yucky stuff lurking under your gums is haunting, right? But the truth
of this condition is that bacteria isn’t involved at all! Perhaps the truth is stranger:
the dentin inside the tooth is defective, but the enamel looks (and often is)
normal.
As teeth erupt, there is a natural resorption process that must happen, where the
body breaks down and absorbs tooth tissue so the adult teeth can grow in. Rarely
the healthy tooth structure of the new tooth is affected by abnormal tooth
resorption, and this causes pre-eruptive dental caries in the layer below the
enamel.
Dr. Culp will see these on a routine X-ray during an exam and discuss treatment
options if necessary. When they do come to the surface, we may see tooth
discoloration. Your child may never experience any effects, and our team will
monitor the issue and treat it if needed.
Oooo! Bones make you think of skeletons this time of year, but we are talking
about bits of bone over a molar as it erupts!
The human body is amazingly aware of foreign material or things that don’t
belong and can effectively eliminate them, but sometimes a bit of bone is left
over and covers the top of a molar as it emerges. Dr. Culp gives this example:
“When coral is taken out of the sea, the creatures that built the structure die, but
the skeletal remains persist. In this case, the bone-forming cells died, and what’s
left is their product - bone.”
This is also called eruption sequestrum. Usually, it isn’t a problem and may even
resolve without treatment. If it is causing irritation, the bit of bone can be
removed.
Sometimes, a sequestrum of bone can happen in other circumstances, and this
can cause a bit of bone in your mouth to protrude, and it may even poke out of
your gum. This type of sequestrum of bone can be caused by tooth extraction,
osteomyelitis, or trauma.
Common symptoms your child may complain of are:
● Feeling a sharp protrusion from the gum
● Irritation, tenderness, and swelling
● A white bump under the gum that is hard
If this occurs, the best course of action is to call and make an appointment at
Jungle Roots for an exam.
Why did the vampire go to the dentist?
To get his fangs fixed!
No, most humans do not have fangs, but we do have teeth in some form or another!
Most of the dental conditions we discussed here are not something we can control
for our children, and most of the time, they are not an emergency or critical to their
overall health. However, it is a good idea to be aware of them and monitor them. If
Jungle Roots is your child’s dental home, Dr. Culp will find and evaluate these
conditions during their regular exams.
Although these conditions cannot be prevented, the leading causes of oral disease
are largely preventable. Proper care, including cleaning the teeth and gums with
toothpaste twice a day, flossing once a day, and eating nutrient-rich foods low in
sugar, is essential to minimize the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, the most
common diseases that affect the mouth.
Our dental team is happy to provide professional cleanings of baby teeth (primary
teeth) and permanent teeth and teach your child how to keep their mouth clean and
free from dental caries. We want everyone to enjoy the best possible dental health!
We’ll see you “in the jungle!”
