Is this enamel hypoplasia?

[GwenFromBudgens]

Any experienced mums/dentists out there who can tell me if this looks like enamel hypoplasia in my DS's front teeth? And, if so, how severe does it look?

They've come through since our last check up in October. Not due another check up until April, but if they look like they need attention now I'll bring it forward. No problems with baby teeth at all - no cavities or decay. Bottom adult teeth all look fine.

I'm not a dentist, but I have enamel hypoplasia, and it looks like it to me. Unless there are other reasons the teeth can look like that?

I've no idea. How severe do you think it looks? I'm fretting over him going through teasing/painful dental treatment etc.

It looks like my DS who has enamel hypoplasia. His front teeth are discoloured and he has fluoride paint every 3-6 months.
Watch the back teeth. His 4 back ones came through very weak and by the time I noticed they were half disintegrated and he had to have them removed.

Don't worry too much about teasing. Mine doesn't get much. He may get more at secondary school but there are worse things to be teased about.

Thanks NotANotMan. Does the fluoride paint help the discolouration? Or is it just preventative?

No, it's just protective. They will discuss cosmetic treatments when he's older, they prefer to leave them natural as long as possible as cosmetic treatment can potentially damage them.

I can understand you worrying about teasing. If it helps at all, I didn't get teased about it at school. The main problem for me has been the sheer amount of dental treatment I have needed over the years, and the fact the NHS don't give a shiny shite about providing acceptable cosmetic treatments. This has resulted in costs of thousands upon thousands overt he years on crowns, inlays, white fillings etc done privately. Now my DD has the same issue (it's genetic in our case), so I feel your pain.

Could you get him to the dentist ASAP for an assessment and a treatment plan to slow down further erosion? As pp says, cosmetic treatment will be more of an option later. Let's keep our fingers feed crossed the NHS are offering better-looking treatment options in the future, as they are planning to phase or amalgam fillings in the next couple of years.

Thank you Tolleshunt. Better start a savings fund now I guess. Feel so sad. His baby teeth were so straight and perfect.

I'll make an appointment on Monday and get the dentists view.

Yes, I would start saving, unfortunately. It is sad, isn't it, I'm sad about DD's, even though I knew there was a good chance of her having it.

Tolles does it affect all your front teeth? I am hoping that DS can get away with just needing cosmetic treatment on the front 4 as the first 8 that came through at the same time (front 4 and back 4) seem to have been worse affected than the newer ones. The dentist said they develop at different times.
I have a veneer on my front tooth and I would definitely not want DS to end up with veneers if he can avoid it.

It varies across the teeth. Actually, mynkokars are some of the worst affected, but it's not such a problem, cosmetically.

Also, the teeth that looked ok at first had thinner enamel, even though there weren't missing bits, so it eroded far quicker than the norm over time. I have to severely limit acidic foods (and I love fruit and vinaigrette...,), to slow down the erosion as much as possible. Also, use enamel protecting toothpaste etc. Tooth Mousse is also helpful, though odd and faffy to use.

Molars!

Hmm cant attach a picture but wanted to strongly recommend Tooth Mousse - we used it like a normal toothpaste, adding extra to the enamel fault on DDs milk teeth. It stopped the enamel damage further and helped it heal. Comes in several flavours. Made a huge difference to us.

That's interesting, will look it up thanks.

Did the tooth mousse help with the colour?

Dd has it on her back (baby) molars but also has a small patch on her adult front tooth.
My dentist told me when she's older things can be done. She said sometimes whitening can help or she could have a veneer on that tooth.
To be fair though she doesn't seem bothered at all so I will leave the decision to her.
I know how you feel though I was devastated when I first found out about her back teeth as they were literally crumbling and quite deformed.
She still has them, the dentist just keeps painting them and filling in the bits that fall off.

It does look a bit like it, yes.

My dd has quite severe enamel hypoplasia, and I agree with what a pp says about watching the back teeth, my dd had to have so many removed as they were so soft they were just crumbling away.

We see a specialised paediatric dentist, as dd has many other issues too. They were able to do a small amount of cosmetic work on her teeth now, to help with the discolouration. It’s not permanent and has started to fade and grow out a bit but they will be repeating it again and when dd is older they will be doing tooth bonding which will be more permanent.

I’ve attached a pic to show what dds teeth look like after her treatment, I’m really struggling to find a before photo though as she never smiled with her teeth showing! The difference is amazing though, you can see in the pic if you look closely the discolouration it’s hiding though, it’s honestly given dd a lot of confidence back, so it’s definitely worth while seeing your dentist and seeing what they can do.

That's useful to know Jammiebammie, your DD's teeth look great. Glad she feels better about her smile now.

I'm trying not to make DS self conscious about them, but keep inspecting them every time he brushes to see if they're better/worse. When he's chatting and smiling normally, I don't think it's too noticeable. It's only when I get right up close I can see it, so I'm really hoping it isn't too severe a case.

My teenage Ds has bad staining that the dentist has said is enamel hypoplasia although I wasn't sure if had been caused by him being very ill as a baby.

He has been teased a little, his teeth are also wonky so he is on the NHS treatment waiting list for a brace. Hopefully that treatment will start January next year.

We are saving to help pay for cosmetic treatment after he has finished with the orthodontist so hopefully it will make the staining look a little better. I feel very sorry for him as he is currently being assessed for asd too and he knows that he is different, I just wish he didn't have to deal with all his teeth issues as well.

Hi OP, to answer your question DDs looked different, she had two lighter coloured large spots on her front teeth, the middle of which had worn away deeply and a deep black spot in the middle that had to be scrubbed daily. Perhaps not the same as the teeth werent crumbly and the back teeth were fine. But yes, with the tooth mousse the enamel grew back slowly over the dodgy spot (half a cm in size) and was the same colour, the the discolored bit was smaller and smaller.

My DD has it, on party much all her adult teeth. They advised sealant as soon as permanent molars come through, if necessary and she gets a decent fluoride paint each time she goes. I still brush her teeth at night a s a precaution, using the pro enamel. She does her own with normal paste in the morning.

My 8yo DDs front teeth have just started looking like this after previously being fine when they first came through. I can't get an appointment for a couple of weeks and have been worrying myself sick. I suspected it was enamel hypoplasia. She was born 13 weeks premature and our dentist did say when she was younger that this could affect her teeth. She also has one that has grown back to overlap the one behind it and that now looks as if it needs attention, DD came to us the other day saying it feels as if it's cracked but it's not sore, she just feels it from running her tongue over it. I can't stop worrying about that one and the front ones and I'm terrified about her appointment. I'm so scared in case she needs that one removed, the one she thinks is cracked. I've never had a tooth out myself but DH has and he's had awful trouble afterwards a couple of times. I'm so so scared for her to go through that. I feel like I'm thinking about it ALL the time, I can't enjoy life right now. I do have quite bad anxiety and a massive dental phobia so I reckon those 2 things have reared their ugly heads 😢

Realised I never updated this, sorry.

Dentist said it is not hypoplasia. It is fluorosis that he wouldn't treat at this stage. Cosmetic treatment might be an option later in life, and it may even fade on its own with time. But the main thing is that his teeth are healthy and strong.

I am very relieved!

Hi @GwenFromBudgens
I know this thread has not been updated for a while but wondered if you had any update on how your sons teeth look now they’ve continued to come through?
My just-9yo has similar markings on his upper incisors (although has some white patches on the tips of his lower incisors too) and I’m so paranoid that they are damaged through something I have done ☹️ Just hoping that they are strong and healthy despite the discolouration 🤞🏻

Hi! They look fine to me now, not sure if the marks have faded or if I just stopped noticing them once the dentist reassured me they were healthy! Hope your little one's gnashers are ok.

Actually, comparing to the first photo I posted I'd say the marks have definitely faded.