Microdontia – Developmental Disturbances in Size of teeth

In the developmental disturbances of teeth as you have seen in the classification we have 2 types:

• Microdontia
• Macrodontia

We are going to discuss in detail about Microdontia here:

Microdontia

Microdontia: It is defined as the size of theeth which is smaller than normal (or) outside the normal range of teeth size.

Microdontia is again divided into 3 types:

• True Generalized
• Relatively Generalized
• Involving a Single Tooth

True Generalized:

All the teeth are smaller than normal.

Teeth are well formed but small in size.

Incidence: Very Rare.

Aetiology: Pitutary dwarfism, Downs Syndrome.

Relative Generalized type:

Teeth are normal or slightly smaller than normal teeth within the range of size of teeth, but the jaw size is slightly larger than the normal giving an Impression of Microdontia.

Aetiology: Inheritance of Jaw size from one parent and the teeth from another parent may lead to this condition.

Involving a Single Tooth:

It is also called as localised Microdontia, affecting commonly the Maxillary lateral incissor and the Third Molar.

Incidence: Rather Common

Aetiology: Supernumerary teeth and in Facial Hemiatrophy.

Common Form in PEG laterals: The mesial and distal surfaces converge to the top forming a cone shaped crown with the roots being shorter than normal.

Peg Laterals

Treatment:

Treatment mainly requires prosthodontic intervention as the teeth are smaller in size they are useful in preparing crowns and using the teeth as abutments.

Single Crowns – In case of Localized Microdontia

Multiple Crowns or Bridges – In case of Generalized Microdontia with missing teeth