Dental agenesis: A literature review

Tooth agenesis or hypodontia are the anomalies characterized by developmental absence of one or more teeth. Literature uses words like Oligodontia, Anodontia and Hypodontia to describe missing teeth. It is a rare genetic disorder which may be associated with any syndrome or occurs as an isolated trait. Syndromic hypodontia occurs due to mutation in trisomy 21, p63, Nemo genes and others while non-syndromic hypodontia is due to mutation in Msx1, Pax9 or Axin2 genes. The etiological factor may be an embryogenic defect resulting in obstructed dental lamina causing failed proliferation of odontogenic tissues affecting permanent dentition more frequently.