# Microdontia

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{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Microdontia
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| image           = Microdontia.jpg
| caption         = Radiograph (X-ray) showing microdontia. Note also periapical lesion on the maxillary left lateral incisor.
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| field           = [Dentistry](/source/Dentistry)
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'''Microdontia''' is a condition in which one or more [teeth](/source/teeth) appear smaller than normal. In the generalized form, all teeth are involved. In the localized form, only a few teeth are involved. The most common teeth affected are the upper [lateral incisor](/source/lateral_incisor)s and [third molar](/source/third_molar)s.  

Teeth affected by microdontia may also have abnormal shape, and the abnormal size may affect the whole tooth, or only a part of the tooth.<ref name=Poulsen2009 />

==Definition==
Males tend to have larger teeth than females,<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> and tooth size also varies by race.<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> Abnormal tooth size is defined by some as when the dimensions are more than 2 [standard deviation](/source/standard_deviation)s from the average.<ref name=Poulsen2009>{{cite book| vauthors = Poulsen S, Koch G |title=Pediatric dentistry: a clinical approach|date=2013|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|location=Chichester, UK|isbn=9781118687192|page=191|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Xdh8wb6zFsC&pg=PA191}}</ref> Microdontia is when the teeth are abnormally small, and [macrodontia](/source/Macrodontia_(tooth)) is when the teeth are abnormally large.

==Classification==
There are 3 types of microdontia:
===True generalized===
All the teeth are smaller than the normal size. True generalized microdontia is very rare, and occurs in [pituitary dwarfism](/source/pituitary_dwarfism).<ref name=Ibsen2014 /><ref name=Regezi2012 /> Due to decreased levels of [growth hormone](/source/growth_hormone) the teeth fail to develop to a normal size.<ref name=Ibsen2014>{{cite book| vauthors = Ibsen OA, Phelan JA |title=Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist|date=2014|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=9780323291309|pages=164–165|edition=6th|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nsvsAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA165}}</ref>
===Relative generalized===
All the teeth are normal size but appear smaller relative to enlarged jaws.<ref name=Regezi2012>{{cite book| vauthors = Regezi JA, Scuibba JJ, Jordan RC |title=Oral pathology : clinical pathologic correlations|date=2012|publisher=Elsevier/Saunders|location=St. Louis, Mo.|isbn=978-1-4557-0262-6|page=373|edition=6th}}</ref> Relative generalized microdontia may be the result of inheritance of a large jaw from one parent, and normal sized teeth from the other.<ref name=Ibsen2014 />

===Localized (focal)=== 
Localized microdontia is also termed focal, or pseudo-microdontia. A single tooth is smaller than normal.<ref name=Regezi2012 /> Localized microdontia is far more common than generalized microdontia,<ref name=Ibsen2014 /> and is often associated with [hypodontia](/source/hypodontia) (reduced number of teeth).<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> The most commonly involved tooth in localized microdontia is the maxillary lateral incisor, which may also be shaped like an inverted cone (a "peg lateral").<ref name=Regezi2012 /> Peg laterals typically occur on both sides,<ref name=Ibsen2014 /> and have short roots.<ref name=Ibsen2014 /> Inheritance may be involved,<ref name=Ibsen2014 /> and the frequency of microdontia in the upper laterals is just under 1%.<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> The second most commonly involved tooth is the maxillary third molars,<ref name=Regezi2012 /> and after this [supernumerary teeth](/source/hyperdontia).<ref name=Regezi2012 />

==Causes==
There are many potential factors involved.<ref name=Laskaris2011>{{cite book|author1=Laskaris G|title=Color Atlas of Oral Diseases in Children and Adolescents|date=2011|publisher=Thieme|isbn=9783131604712|page=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dRuF_G5yRO0C&pg=PA2}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [Congenital hypopituitarism](/source/Congenital_hypopituitarism)<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> 
* [Ectodermal dysplasia](/source/Ectodermal_dysplasia)<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> 
* [Down syndrome](/source/Down_syndrome)<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> 
* [Ionizing radiation](/source/Ionizing_radiation) to the jaws during tooth development ([odontogenesis](/source/Human_tooth_development))<ref name=Poulsen2009 /> 
* [Chemotherapy](/source/Chemotherapy) during tooth development<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Marshall syndrome](/source/Marshall_syndrome)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Rieger syndrome](/source/Rieger_syndrome)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Focal dermal hypoplasia](/source/Focal_dermal_hypoplasia)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Silver-Russell syndrome](/source/Silver-Russell_syndrome)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Williams syndrome](/source/Williams_syndrome)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Gorlin-Chaudhry-Moss syndrome](/source/Gorlin-Chaudhry-Moss_syndrome)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Coffin–Siris syndrome](/source/Coffin%E2%80%93Siris_syndrome)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Salamon syndrome](/source/Salamon_syndrome)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
* [Cleft lip and palate](/source/Cleft_lip_and_palate)<ref name=Laskaris2011 />
}}

Others include trichorhinopharyngeal, odontotrichomelic, neuroectodermal and dermo-odontodysplasia syndromes.<ref name=Laskaris2011 />

==Treatment==
Unerupted microdonts may require surgical removal to prevent the formation of [cyst](/source/dental_cyst)s.<ref name=Ibsen2014 /> Erupted microdonts, peg laterals especially, may cause cosmetic concern. Such teeth may be restored to resemble normal sized teeth,<ref name=Ibsen2014 /> typically with [composite](/source/dental_composite) build ups or [crown](/source/dental_crown)s.<ref name=Laskaris2011 /> [Orthodontics](/source/Orthodontics) may be required in severe cases to close gaps between the teeth.<ref name=Laskaris2011 />

==Epidemiology==
Females are affected more than males,<ref name=Laskaris2011 /> and the condition occurs in permanent (adult) teeth more than deciduous (baby teeth or milk teeth).<ref name=Laskaris2011 />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Medical resources
|  DiseasesDB     = 35076
|  ICD10          = {{ICD10|K|00|2|k|00}}
|  ICD9           = {{ICD9|520.2}}
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Category:Developmental tooth disorders
{{oral pathology}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Microdontia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdontia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdontia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.