Genetic Dental Conditions

Genetic dental conditions can affect you throughout your life, but you don’t have to handle them alone. Middle Tennessee Prosthodontics is here for you, and our team is highly trained in treating genetic dental conditions.

We treat patients of all ages with various dental conditions, using prosthodontics, advanced cleaning routines, and cosmetic dentistry solutions. You and your family members don’t have to live in pain or shame. Contact our office to find solutions to your genetic dental conditions.

We take an interdisciplinary approach, working as a team with pediatric dentists, surgeons, and orthodontists to restore function and esthetics.

Request Appointment

Understanding Genetic and Inherited Dental Disorders

Genetic dental disorders are issues with your teeth that are caused by your DNA. You are born with them, and they require management throughout your life. Some genetic dental disorders can be inherited from your parents, while other times, the gene mutation starts with you.

Genetic dental issues can cause a variety of issues, such as:

  • Missing teeth 
  • Discoloration of enamel or dentin
  • Poor or entirely missing enamel
  • Extra teeth
  • Small or misshapen teeth

Diagnosing Your Genetic Dental Disorder

Most often, a dentist is the first to notice signs of genetic dental disorders during a pediatric visit, after which they may refer the child to a primary care doctor for diagnosis.

One way a primary care doctor can diagnose your genetic condition is through genetic testing. This process uses your saliva to analyze your genes and detect serious genetic anomalies. Your dentist and primary care doctor can use your specific information to customize a long-term plan for you.

Genetic testing allows us to create a plan that isn’t just a band-aid solution; it is a plan that is custom and long-lasting. While genetic testing is still a fairly new technology, it has the potential to revolutionize how we treat genetic dental concerns.

Our team understands the importance of working with other specialists and your primary care doctor to help you receive holistic care and a proper diagnosis. 

If your child has been tested for a genetic dental disorder, our prosthodontists can work with your primary care provider to properly care for your child’s teeth from an early age—working around any dental disorders. We welcome children in for cleanings and prosthodontic care.

Common Genetic Dental Issues and How We Treat Them

Many genetic dental issues have complicated names that make them sound scarier than they are. We seek to make your dental treatment of genetic disease simple and comfortable. This list includes a common name and its scientific name so you can understand what you might be dealing with a bit better.

Some individuals are born with fewer teeth due to genetic factors. This condition can affect both primary and permanent dentition. Hypodontia refers to the absence of 1–6 teeth, oligodontia involves the absence of more than 6 teeth, and anodontia describes the complete absence of teeth. These conditions may influence jaw development, function, and esthetics, often requiring a proactive, staged treatment plan.

Treatment

Management options depend on age, number of missing teeth, and overall oral health. For isolated tooth loss, we may recommend a retainer with a prosthetic tooth, a dental bridge, or an implant. When multiple teeth are missing, custom full or partial dentures can support both function and esthetics—even for children.

In some cases, primary (baby) teeth do not fall out on schedule. This may be due to the absence of underlying permanent teeth or eruption disturbances. Retained baby teeth may cause crowding or functional complications, but they can also serve as long-term substitutes in the absence of successors.

Treatment

If permanent teeth are present, we may recommend extracting retained baby teeth to facilitate proper alignment. In cases where no adult teeth exist, we aim to preserve the primary teeth for as long as possible. Protective treatments like sealants or crowns help maintain their integrity, enabling them to function well into adulthood.

An excess of teeth, known as supernumerary teeth, can also be genetically linked. These additional teeth may emerge sporadically or in full sets, potentially interfering with normal eruption patterns or alignment.

Treatment

Extraction is typically the treatment of choice, especially if the extra teeth hinder normal development or create crowding. In some cases, we may stage these procedures to allow for optimal healing and comfort.

Ectodermal dysplasias (ED) are a group of over 180 inherited disorders affecting at least two ectodermally derived structures—commonly teeth, hair, nails, or sweat glands. Affecting approximately 7 in 10,000 births, ED is most often inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, typically being carried by females and manifesting in males. Dental anomalies are among the most prominent features, including tooth agenesis, conical teeth, delayed eruption, and taurodontism.

Risks and Health Considerations

Although not life-threatening when managed, ED significantly impacts quality of life. Dental irregularities can affect:

  • Jaw Growth
  • Facial Development
  • Speech
  • Nutrition
  • Psychosocial Well-Being

Missing or malformed teeth can lead to functional deficits and esthetic concerns.

Treatment and Long-Term Management 

Treatment typically begins in childhood with interventions like bonding or removable prosthetics to support function and appearance. As the patient matures, care may include implants, orthodontics, or jaw surgery. A multidisciplinary approach is essential. Long-term goals center on restoring function, supporting facial growth, and improving confidence. Ongoing care with one of our prosthodontists ensures stability and optimal outcomes.

Amelogenesis imperfecta is a rare, inherited disorder that disrupts the normal development of dental enamel. Enamel may be thin, soft, or poorly mineralized, resulting in teeth that are discolored, sensitive, brittle, and vulnerable to wear and fracture. Amelogenesis imperfecta affects both primary and permanent teeth and occurs in approximately 1 in 14,000 individuals. It can follow autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, or X-linked patterns of inheritance, depending on the underlying gene mutation (e.g., FAM83H, ENAM, AMELX, MMP20).

Risks and Health Considerations

Due to defective enamel, individuals with this condition are more prone to dental complications such as:

  • Caries
  • Tooth Erosion
  • Sensitivity
  • Malocclusion
  • Periodontal Disease

A proper diagnosis—supported by family history, clinical exam, radiographs, and genetic testing—is essential for developing a long-term care strategy.

Treatment and Long-Term Management

Treatment may include fluoride therapy, bonding, veneers, or crowns. Full-mouth rehabilitation or orthodontics may be necessary in severe cases. The long-term focus is on protecting teeth, restoring function, and enhancing esthetics. Early and continuous care helps reduce complications and supports lifelong oral health.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a rare genetic disorder that affects the formation of dentin, the layer beneath tooth enamel. This leads to discolored, translucent teeth that are weak, brittle, and prone to wear, fracture, and premature loss. Dentinogenesis imperfecta affects both baby and adult teeth and impacts about 1 in 6,000 to 8,000 individuals. There are three main types: Type I is associated with osteogenesis imperfecta and collagen gene mutations, while Types II and III are typically isolated to dental symptoms.

Risks and Health Considerations

Dentinogenesis imperfecta compromises the structural integrity of teeth, increasing the risk of:

  • Enamel Loss
  • Tooth Decay
  • Sensitivity
  • Tooth Loss
  • Misalignment

Some individuals may also experience enamel hypoplasia, tooth agenesis, or joint hypermobility. Diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, imaging (such as X-rays), and genetic testing to confirm mutations in DSPP or, in Type I, COL1A1/COL1A2.

Treatment and Long-Term Management 

Care focuses on reinforcing and preserving teeth with crowns, veneers, or fillings. Tooth replacement with implants or dentures may be needed in some cases. With preventive strategies, early intervention, and regular monitoring, you can maintain function, comfort, and esthetics over time.

Am I At Risk for a Genetic Dental Disorder?

Family Ties and Oral Health

Understanding your family’s past dental history can help you know what to look out for in your smile and in your children’s smiles. Some genetic conditions, such as ectodermal dysplasia and amelogenesis imperfecta, can be passed down to children.

When you come in to visit our office over a genetic concern, we will ask you about your family’s dental history. These questions are especially pertinent when it comes to grandparents and parents. We may ask questions such as:

  • Do you know if your family has a history of genetic dental disorders? If so, do you know what they are?
  • Do any of your family members exhibit teeth that are discolored, pitted, or of an odd shape?
  • If you have children, have they shown signs of or been diagnosed with a dental disorder?
  • Has anyone in your family had teeth that never grew in or had too many teeth that had to be removed?

If you answered yes to one or more of these and are struggling with poor oral health or cosmetic issues, your concerns might be linked to a genetic tooth issue.

Keep in mind that some dental issues, such as receding gums or crooked teeth, can be passed down by family, but they are not a genetic disorder.

Receive Oral Care for Genetic Dental Conditions with Our Team

Our office is the only prosthodontist within a 400-mile radius of Brentwood, Tennessee. If you are looking for solutions for your dental needs, we can help!

Our judgment-free office has a variety of custom solutions for your smile. We understand you might be nervous, which is why we can set up a no-strings-attached consultation for you to learn more about how we can help your smile look and feel its best, no matter what conditions may be affecting your teeth. Reach out for a consultation today.

Request Appointment