Considerations on anodontias and oligodontias

Abstract

The authors have done a li- terature review in order to con- tribute to the study of absence of the teeth, by analyzing the concepts and etiologies of these malformations of tooth number, emphasizing the need of an early diagnosis to prevent posterior com- plications. The absence of the teeth is present both in the deciduous and permanent teething, being rare in the first one. The etiologic factors that cause this reduction in the number of the teeth occur in the early phases of the odonto- genesis, that is, the initiation and proliferation phase of the dental germs. These factors are systemic ones, like rickets, syphilis, serious intrauterine disorders, hereditary factors, presence of syndromes and local ones, like low doses of radiotherapy. Most authors have observed the unilateral absence of the upper permanent incisor as the most common alteration. The names used, hypodontia, anodon- tia and oligodontia are related to the number of missing teeth. Key words: anodontias, oli- godontias, hypodontia, agenesias, number anomalies.