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ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – There is an old school of thought that patients in need of orthodontic treatment should wait until all of their adult teeth have erupted.

But what happens when some of those adult teeth never erupt? Patients can needlessly prolong treatment, making treatment time longer, said St. Paul orthodontist Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth.

That is one reason why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an initial orthodontic evaluation by age 7. In addition to early treatment that can lessen the time a child spends in future treatment, an orthodontist can confirm that a child has all of his or her adult teeth, said Eisenhuth, who owns Cosmopolitan Orthodontics, an Eagan and St. Paul orthodontics practice. Orthodontist Dr. Trudy Bonvino, a St. Paul invisalign provider, is the orthodontist on staff there.

“We see a lot of patients in the exam room who are missing permanent teeth and are unaware of it,” Eisenhuth said.

Congenitally missing teeth, also referred to as tooth agenesis, occurs in almost 20 percent of the population, according to an article on www.dentalresource.org, a dental health Web site
( http://dentalresource.org/topics13.htm ). The bulk of these cases are missing third molars, or wisdom teeth. Most people are born with four wisdom teeth, but some can have just one, two or three.

Less than 3 percent of the American population has missing upper lateral incisors, while slightly more than 3 percent lacks second molars. Causes of agenesis can be endocrine, hereditary and environmental.

Eisenhuth and other St. Paul orthodontists determine whether patients have congenitally missing teeth by taking panoramic X-rays of the upper and lower jaws.

Dental Implants
There are ways to remedy the problem of congenitally missing teeth. Fixed bridges or dentures can restore a smile, but Eisenhuth prefers dental implants, especially in children. Implants are sturdy, look and feel like natural teeth and can last for years when properly cared for, said the St. Paul braces expert.

The process of getting dental implants varies according to the type of implant and the condition of the patient’s jawbone. Implants can’t be placed until the patient stops growing, which is at about age 18. Eisenhuth maintains the space where the tooth should be so there is room for the implant once it is placed.

For youth with healthy bone, the procedure is fairly simple and involves a metal anchor, a metal extension and a porcelain crown. The anchor is surgically placed into the patient’s jawbone to act as the tooth’s root. Over time, the anchor fuses to the bone and an extension is placed on top of it, which will be used to hold the crown once it is placed.

Porcelain crowns have the look and feel of natural teeth and enable Eisenhuth to complete orthodontic treatment in a manner that renders optimum results.

Other Uses for Dental Implants in Orthodontics

Dental implants do more than restore an orthodontic patients smile. Some experts say that dental implants are changing the way orthodontics is practiced, according to an article on Medical News Today.

“In the past, we’ve used teeth as anchors to move other teeth,” Eisenhuth said. “But dental implants have made it possible for us to have an adequate anchor that applies force without causing unwanted movement to other teeth.”

Although Eisenhuth doesn’t place dental implants in her office, she often refers patients to an oral surgeon who can place them. Once they are placed, the implants can streamline treatment and decrease the length of time a patient is in braces, she said.

In some cases, dental implants remove the reliance on patient compliance to wear their appliances.

“We’ve been quite happy with the opportunities dental implants have created to improve patients’ smiles in a variety of ways,” Eisenhuth said.

Learn More
If you would like to learn more about congenitally missing teeth, dental implants, or you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth, please call: (651) 406-8100 or visit her Web site: http://doctorjennifer.com/.

About Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth
Dr. Eisenhuth attended the University of Minnesota Dental School and graduated in the top of her class. She earned the Minnesota Association of Orthodontic Achievement Award and several academic achievement awards. She entered her orthodontic residency at the University of Minnesota and earned a certificate in orthodontics and a Master of Science degree.
Dr. Eisenhuth is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
She takes pride in caring for the orthodontic needs of residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis, and their surrounding regions, including St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Eagan and Eagan, Minnesota.
Her office is located at 3340 Sherman Court, Eagan, Minn., 55121.

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