What every parent should know about Hutchinson’s teeth?

Hutchinson’s Teeth – The peglike or screwdriver-shaped teeth are one of the dental developmental anomalies. Mostly, the teeth develop in an abnormal shape due to calcium metabolic disturbances. However, hutchinson’s teeth happen due to the side effect of an infectious condition called “Congenital Syphilis”. Shockingly, it is transmitted to a kid from his/her mother in most cases.

Kids with congenital syphilis encounter various abnormalities like Hutchinson’s teeth. It is named after the British Surgeon Sir Jonathan Hutchinson who discovered syphilis’s impact on teeth in 1858. Keep reading to find out more.

How does Congenital Syphilis affect teeth?

Congenital Syphilis is a contagious bacterial infection caused by a microbe called Treponema Pallidum. This condition is easily transmissible when a person touches the sores of an infected individual so that adults transmit syphilis via sexual contact.

It implies that infants born to afflicted women get infected during birth or through the placenta. About 1.5% of pregnant women around the world are affected by syphilis. On the other hand, 40% of the infants delivered by syphilis victims die due to the infection.

Babies who survive develop some developmental abnormalities that are commonly known as Hutchinson Triad. They include:

• Hutchinson Teeth – Teeth developed in an unusual shape
• Labyrinthitis – Problem in the inner ear and causes deafness
• Interstitial Keratitis – Redness & inflammation in the eye’s front & protective layer (Cornea).

Besides these, those kids encounter additional problems like saddle nose, skeletal abnormalities, joint issues, enlarged liver, and spleen.

How do the Hutchinson Teeth look like?

As well as having a triangle or peg-like shape, a Hutchinson tooth exhibits the following things:

• Smaller than the usual size
• Widely spaced
• Has thin enamel
• Has notches on the biting surface

The affected molar teeth (known as mulberry molars) have multiple cusps instead of 4 cusps.

Remember that congenital syphilis affects primary teeth especially in central incisors and molars. Hence you cannot notice hutchinson teeth in a baby until he/she is aged 6 years.

Will a child develop Hutchinson teeth without syphilis?

No. Hutchniton teeth occur due to the impact of syphilis. In simply, the notched incisors and mulberry molars are the signs of this condition.

Meanwhile, there is another problematic genetic condition called dental dysplasia. It affects a tooth’s dentition production followed by a malformation in the root. This makes the teeth grow in an atypical shape. The misshapen teeth developed with dental dysplasia are nonsyphilitic.

However, some people confuse dysplasia with syphilis as both conditions cause notches over the teeth’s biting surfaces.

What are Hutchinson’s teeth treatments available?

Hutchinson’s teeth are irreversible but their appearance can be modified with a variety of smile makeover treatments. If you suspect your kid is affected by developmental problems such as syphilis, consult a pediatric dentist.

Dentists diagnose the misshapen teeth with imaging systems such as X-rays. At times, a blood test is mandatory to confirm if the child has syphilis. Depending on the degree of distortion, dentists recommend any of the following:

• Dental crowns
• Dental bridges
• Teeth fillings
• Teeth braces or other orthodontic appliances

Bottom line

Do you want to prevent Hutchinson’s teeth in your little champ?

If yes, you should indulge in steps to treat syphilis. The good thing, this condition can be cured if it is treated in the initial stage of infection. A pregnant woman should get syphilis treatment before the 16th week of pregnancy.

Otherwise, the child would get notched teeth and other Hutchinson signs even though the afflicted mother gets cured and recovered from syphilis.