CAN DENTAL CONDITIONS BE INHERITED?
Children inherit all sorts of traits from their parents, such as eye and hair color, and so on. A child can also be predisposed to certain medical conditions that the child’s parents (and even grandparents) have. These conditions can range from anything such as diabetes and cardiac disease to more complex genetic conditions. That does not mean the child will develop the condition, but they are at higher risk of developing it during their lifetime if there is a strong family history.
The same applies to dental conditions. A child with a parent who has certain dental conditions has a higher chance of developing the same condition. Here are a couple of examples:
AMELOGENESIS IMPERFECTA
Amelogenesis imperfecta affects approximately 1 in 14,000 people (National Institutes of Health), and is caused by a mutation on one or more of the genes that control how your tooth enamel develops. This can cause problems that can affect the development of both baby and adult teeth. Most people inherit a mutation from one or both biological parents. Teeth affected by amelogenesis imperfecta may appear discolored (gray, yellow, or brown), pitted, rough, and may be smaller than normal. Due to the lack of enamel, there is often sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
HYPODONTIA (Congenitally missing teeth)
This is the most common dental genetic abnormality. People with hypodontia are born with missing teeth (also known as congenitally missing teeth), which means that their teeth never develop. The most common cause of hypodontia is heredity, which means biological parents pass the condition to their children.
Hypodontia is typically diagnosed early in childhood. Early intervention is critical in managing the development and growth of oral structures; therefore, your dentist will often work with an orthodontist to monitor and manage this condition.
Questions? Please reach out to us by phone at (781) 942-2020, by e-mail at info@drkhull.com, or by navigating to the Contact page of our website.
Not a patient but would like to become one? Send us an Appointment Request!