What could be the cause of crescent-shaped front teeth?

Question

Hello doctor,

My son is two and a half years old and has very jagged (crescent-shaped) front teeth. I have brought him to two dentists. One said it appeared to be an enamel deficiency and the other said it was due to him grinding his teeth. I have never seen or heard him grind.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read through your complaint and the relevant details. I also saw the picture attached (attachment removed to protect patient identity). This is not because of teeth grinding because the features of the tooth say it all. This could be something called Hutchinson's incisors with the clear crescent shape of the teeth. There is a high possibility of his back teeth (molars) having a similar shape. If that is so, please check with a general physician if the child has any other abnormalities in the internal organs including rhinitis and rashes. Because Hutchinson's incisors are a sign of congenital syphilis (birth defect).

Mostly, in syphilitic infections, permanent teeth will be affected. But here, considering your son's age it is the milk teeth that are affected. Hence, it could be as simple as enamel deficiencies which were already diagnosed. If infections are ruled out, then you need not worry about the enamel malformation because once the permanent teeth erupt, it will be resolved automatically. After a consultation with the general physician, you might choose to get the teeth filled by a dentist for cosmetic reasons.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.