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Enamel hypoplasia is a tooth enamel defect that causes missing enamel, resulting in small dents, grooves, or dimples on the tooth’s surface. It is caused by malnutrition, disease, infection, or fever during tooth formation. Treatment options include restoring the affected enamel, proper oral hygiene, fluoride treatments, and avoiding sugary foods. In extreme cases, the affected tooth may need to be removed and replaced with a dental implant or bridge.
Enamel hypoplasia (EH) is a tooth enamel defect that results in one or more teeth with less than normal amount of enamel. The missing enamel is usually localized, which results in small dents, grooves, or dimples on the outer surface of the affected tooth. This makes the tooth surface very rough and defects often stand out because they are brown or yellow in color. In extreme cases, the tooth enamel is completely absent, causing the affected tooth to become deformed or abnormally small in size.
Sometimes hypoplasia presents as a distinct white spot on a tooth. This is often referred to as “Turner tooth” or “Turner hypoplasia” and is typically caused by trauma to the tooth during its mineralization phase. These white spots can also be the result of high fluoride exposure during enamel development, a condition known as florosis. Other times EH shows up as cloudy streaks all over the teeth. This indicates some kind of unknown trauma to the enamel over a long period of time.
Enamel hypoplasia is typically caused by malnutrition, disease, infection, or fever during tooth formation. Some medications can also affect teeth that were growing at the time of dosing. Environmental factors can also interfere with tooth formation, such as exposure to toxic chemicals at an early age. In many cases, the exact cause of enamel hypoplasia cannot be determined.
Most cases of enamel hypoplasia occur before the age of three. Any trauma that occurs after this time is less likely to cause enamel defects. This is because tooth enamel is already calcified and more resistant to traumatic factors.
Fortunately, enamel hypoplasia can usually be managed by restoring the affected enamel, following proper oral hygiene methods, receiving fluoride treatments, and avoiding foods containing excessive amounts of sugar. If the EH is very mild, your dentist will typically fill the pits or dents with a clear sealant. Another common treatment for this dental condition is to bond a tooth-colored material to the tooth to protect it from further wear.
If the enamel has such a rough surface that it is impossible to bond anything to it, your dentist may choose to place a permanent cast or stainless steel crown on the affected tooth. In extreme cases, your dentist may choose to remove the affected tooth and replace it with a dental implant or bridge.
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