Dental Conditions

A bacterial infection that destroys tooth enamel and dentin due to acid production from bacterial metabolism of dietary sugars.

Causes:

• Frequent sugar intake
• Poor oral hygiene
• Nighttime bottle feeding with milk/juice (Early Childhood Caries)
• Low fluoride exposure

Clinical Features:

• White chalky spots (early stage)
• Brown/black cavitated lesions
• Tooth pain or sensitivity

Management:

• Topical fluoride application
• Restorations (composite, glass ionomer, stainless steel crowns)
• Pulp therapy for extensive decay
• Dietary counseling and oral hygiene instruction

Abnormal alignment of teeth or jaws.

Causes:

• Genetic factors
• Oral habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrusting)
• Premature tooth loss

Clinical Features:

• Crowded or spaced teeth
• Open bite, crossbite, or deep bite
• Esthetic and functional issues

Management:

• Interceptive orthodontics (space maintainers, habit breakers)
• Early orthodontic evaluation (around age 7)

Inflammation of gingival tissues caused by plaque accumulation.

Causes:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Hormonal changes (puberty)
• Mouth breathing
• Systemic diseases (e.g., leukemia, diabetes)

Symptoms:

• Red, swollen gums
• Bleeding on brushing
• Bad breath

Management:

• Scaling and polishing
• Improved brushing and flossing
• Treating underlying systemic causes

Examples & Causes:

• Hypodontia: Missing teeth (genetic)
• Supernumerary teeth: Extra teeth (e.g., mesiodens)
• Enamel hypoplasia: Thin or pitted enamel (nutritional deficiency, illness during development)
• Dentinogenesis imperfecta: Discolored, weak dentin (genetic)

Management:

• Restorations or crowns for aesthetics and function
• Orthodontic or surgical removal of supernumerary teeth
• Preventive care to minimize caries risk

Common Habits:

• Thumb sucking
• Pacifier use
• Tongue thrusting
• Mouth breathing
• Bruxism

Effects:

• Proclined upper teeth, open bite, crossbite
• Speech and swallowing issues

Management:

• Habit reminder therapy
• Counseling and positive reinforcement
• Habit-breaking appliances (e.g., palatal crib)

Developmental enamel defect caused by excessive fluoride intake during enamel formation.

Clinical Features:

• White streaks or mottled enamel (mild)
• Brown stains and pitting (severe)

Management:

• Cosmetic restorations (microabrasion, bleaching, veneers)
• Monitoring fluoride sources (toothpaste, water)

Congenital defect due to failure of fusion of facial processes during embryonic development.

Effects:

• Feeding difficulties
• Speech problems
• Dental anomalies (missing teeth, malocclusion)

Management:

• Multidisciplinary approach: surgery, orthodontics, speech therapy, prosthodontics
• Regular dental monitoring and preventive care

MIH is a developmental enamel defect that affects one to four permanent first molars and often the permanent incisors. The enamel is hypomineralized, meaning it’s softer, porous, and more prone to breakdown after eruption.

Causes:

The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but it’s thought to be multifactorial — disturbances during enamel formation (late pregnancy to early childhood). Possible factors include:

• Childhood illnesses (high fever, respiratory infections, otitis media)
• Prenatal or perinatal complications (hypoxia, prematurity, cesarean delivery)
• Early exposure to antibiotics (especially amoxicillin)
• Environmental toxins (dioxins, bisphenol A)

Clinical Features:

• Demarcated opacities (white, yellow, or brown) on affected molars/incisors
• Enamel is soft and porous → easily breaks down under chewing stress
• Tooth sensitivity to temperature or brushing
• Difficult anesthesia due to pulpal inflammation
• Increased risk of post-eruptive enamel breakdown and rapid caries

Management (depends on severity):

• Mild: Desensitizing agents, fluoride varnish, remineralizing agents (CPP-ACP)
• Moderate: Composite or glass ionomer restorations
• Severe: Preformed stainless-steel crowns on molars for protection
• Very severe (non-restorable): Extraction followed by space maintenance or orthodontic guidance

Preventative Care:

• Regular fluoride application
• Good oral hygiene
• Dietary counseling
• Early diagnosis and intervention to avoid caries and hypersensitivity