Enamel hypoplasia: what is it and how to treat it?

Dental enamel is the most superficial and external layer of the tooth. It is formed by hydroxyapatite, which is a set of calcium crystals that form this tooth enamel and which are the hardest and most resistant parts of it. This layer is translucent, so the one that provides the characteristic white color of the teeth is actually the inner layer and not the enamel. This dental enamel can present some diseases, among which the enamel hypoplasia, which is characterized by an abnormal or insufficient enamel development.

What is enamel hypoplasia?

Dental hypoplasia is a dental problem in which the enamel has not developed properly. It is a dental alteration that normally occurs in the formation of the tooth, causing a defect in the formation of the enamel of the teeth. As this occurs during the formation of the tooth, usually, dental hypoplasia appears already before the eruption of the pieces, says dentist in Rani Bagh.

With what signs does it manifest?

Dental hypoplasia, as we have said, is a problem in the development of enamel. This leads to the generation of a tooth with enamel deficiency, which manifests itself with very characteristic alterations:

• Grooves and fissures in the teeth.
• Yellow or brown spots.
• Deterioration of the pieces with evident wear in the most severe cases.

What causes enamel hypoplasia?

Dental hypoplasia occurs before the eruption of the tooth. Therefore, we have to look for the cause in some problem or alteration that has been suffered during that period of dental development. No clear and exact cause is known. But it is known that, in situations in which they have suffered infections, long periods of fever, problems of malnutrition or some important illness during childhood, there are greater chances of developing this disease, says dentist in Saraswati Vihar.

What are the consequences?

The consequences of this alteration directly affect the tooth, since the enamel, being the most superficial and external layer, acts as a protector of the tooth itself. So, if this layer is altered by this problem, the tooth as a whole is affected.

The most important problems that enamel hypoplasia can cause are that these teeth are more prone to decay. This is because, lacking enamel, or having it very weakened, the tooth is more exposed to attacks by bacteria. Also, they are also more vulnerable to gingival diseases since they accumulate plaque more easily. Therefore, it is essential to have good oral hygiene, with special emphasis on the use of toothbrush and dental floss, suggest the best dentist in Delhi.

Treatments against enamel hypoplasia

The first thing to know is that it is an alteration of the enamel and that, consequently, patients should take special care with this type of teeth. To do this, in addition to following proper oral hygiene, you should also avoid bad habits that may further deteriorate the tooth enamel, which includes avoiding the consumption of especially hard or very sugary foods, says dentist in Delhi.

However, nowadays there are a series of treatments that can improve the situation of patients suffering from this enamel disease:

• Sealing: When there are mild signs of dental hypoplasia, a sealant can be used to cover these small fissures and avoid major problems of fractures or tooth sensitivity.
• Dental polishing: When polishing the altered enamel, the small roughness and dark spots of the enamel are eliminated. Afterward, this abrasion will be filled with a composite reconstruction.
• Teeth whitening: You can perform teeth whitening in situations where white spots appear on the enamel. In this way, dentist in Pitampura tries to unify the color of the tooth, although it cannot be guaranteed that the stain will be completely eliminated.
• Veneers or dental crowns: Finally, in the most severe cases, the best option is to carve the pieces to reconstruct them using a veneer or porcelain crown, which allows a change of color and shape of the tooth, while achieving greater resistance of the piece itself.