Adentia
Adentia is a disease of the oral cavity, which is characterized by partial or complete absence of teeth, which arose due to loss (injury) or genetic abnormality of the development of teeth. Tooth loss is accompanied by a number of problems that can significantly harm not only physical, but also psychological health. With adentia, the integrity of the dentition is violated, the functions of chewing fall out, normal speech is disrupted, moreover, in most cases, adentia is accompanied by a cosmetic defect.
In the most severe cases, not only adentia develops, but also a violation of the facial skeleton, dislocations of the temporomandibular joint, complete loss of teeth.
Adentia can be primary and secondary. Primary adentia is a congenital anomaly of the development of teeth and is quite rare. Secondary adentia is acquired. Partial secondary adentia occurs in about half of the population, and full adentia reaches 25% among people who are over 65 years old.
CAUSES OF ADENTIA
The main reason for the development of primary adentia is the violation and death of dental rudiments. Violation of the development of rudiments may be due to various reasons. The main factors are genetic disorders, the influence of harmful factors during fetal development. The rarest phenomenon is complete primary adentia, which is characterized not only by the complete absence of milk and permanent teeth, but also by underdevelopment of the skin, nails, skin, skin glands and other skin derivatives.
Secondary adentia is caused by the loss of already developed teeth. This may be due to diseases of the oral cavity (deep caries, periostitis, osteomyelitis, pulpitis, periodontitis and others), as a result of injuries, tooth extraction.
TYPES OF ADENTIA AND SYMPTOMS
Adentia is a disease that the patient is most likely to hide in every possible way. The appearance of a person with missing teeth becomes specific. In the complete absence of teeth, the lower jaw is shifted to the nose, the cheeks become sunken. Speech also becomes difficult to distinguish, there are problems with nutrition.
If the adentia is partial, a large load falls on the remaining teeth, which is accompanied by increased abrasion of the teeth. The development of hyperesthesia, unpleasant and even painful sensations when closing the jaw. As a complication, TMJ develops.
Dentists systematized and classified the following types of adentia:
Class 1. Two-stringed, terminal defect.
Class 2. One-sided end defet.
Class 3. The defect is one-sided included (distal restriction).
Class 4. Frontal defect – absence of teeth in front.
TREATMENT OF ADENTIA
The main type of treatment for adentia is the restoration of dental teeth with the help of prosthetics. Currently, many techniques are used, among which fixed and removable orthopedic structures are used.
The most common type of prosthetics is dental implants. This method is considered one of the most durable, but also one of the most expensive. The process of restoring dentition with the help of implants is very long and can sometimes reach several months. The installation itself does not last long, but the rest of the time is taken by the process of implant engraftment. After completing all the work and getting the body used to the design, the patient can only observe careful oral hygiene and enjoy life with teeth.
Patients with partial and complete adentia need to pay special attention, because the absence of one or more teeth is not so much a psychological problem as a somatic one due to the disruption of important body functions – nutrition, speech.
