Symptoms and Treatment of Retrognathia:
Retrognathia is a condition where the teeth are missing or partially missing. This condition is caused due to trauma or disease. There are many causes of retrognathia such as Traumatic Dentition, Cancerous Teeth, Genetic Disorders, Malocclusion, etc… The symptoms vary from person to person but they all have one thing in common – They lack tooth structure.
The most common symptom of retrognathia is the inability to chew properly. Some patients may not even be able to eat solid food at all. Other symptoms include difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and difficulty with speech.
There are several treatments available for retrognathia. These include dental implants, orthodontics, and other types of dentistry. Orthodontics involves the use of braces to hold back the growth of your teeth and keep them healthy.
Orthodontists perform these procedures on children because their bodies do not grow out of growing into adult size until much later than adults.
Another common treatment for retrognathia is dental implants. Dental implants are small posts that are inserted into the jaw bone to replace missing teeth. These posts are then topped with a crown that looks and functions like your natural tooth.
By having this type of surgery, you may be able to eat and speak properly once again.
For some people, surgery is not an option. If this is the case, there are still many other treatments that can help your condition. Your doctor can discuss all of the treatment options with you.
It is important to visit a doctor as soon as possible so that you can receive proper treatment for your condition.
Retrognathia:
Retrognathia is a condition in which the lower jaw is shortened or set back. It is a congenital abnormality which means it is present at birth.
Retrognathia is also known as retrognathism or brachygnathism.
Treatment of retrognathia involves surgery to correct the problem and allow the patient to chew and speak properly. It is a difficult procedure that requires specialized knowledge to perform.
The word ‘Retrognathia’ comes from two words ‘Rétro’ which means backward and ‘gnathia’ which means jaw.
Retrognathia can also be known as brachygnathism which is the word used to describe the condition of a jaw which is shorter than normal.
What is Retrognathia?
(Prognathism):
The human jaw consists of two bones, the upper pre-maxilla and the lower mandible. The width of the jaw can vary from person to person and in different ethnicities. In young children, the jaw is not fully developed and it is still growing.
In some children, this growth can continue past the age when it should have stopped causing the jaw to become out of proportion with the rest of the face.
Retrognathia is a condition where the lower jaw is shorter than normal and projects forward beyond the upper jaw. It can also be referred to as prognathism which is the medical term used to describe a jaw that is projecting forward.
A well-known sufferer of retrognathia was the first US president George Washington. He suffered from this condition from a young age and had difficulty chewing his food. He wore a set of dentures for most of his life to fix this problem.
What Causes Retrognathia?
(Causes of Prognathism):
Retrognathia is caused by a hormone known as human growth hormone (HGH). Normally, HGH is released during childhood and stops being produced when the body reaches full growth. In some cases, the body continues to produce large amounts of this hormone after full growth which is thought to be one of the causes of retrognathia.
Aging is also thought to be a factor as the body naturally produces less and less HGH with age.
Other factors that are known to contribute to prognathism are:
Genetics
Diseases such as Cushings Syndrome, acromegaly and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
Tumors or cysts in the pituitary gland which produce an oversupply of HGH.
Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy.
How is Retrognathia Diagnosed?
(Prognathism Diagnosis):
Retrognathia is usually diagnosed in infants and young children when it becomes apparent that their jaw is growing at a different rate to the rest of their face. This can cause an abnormal widening of the upper and lower jaws, with the lower jaw usually projecting further forward than normal.
If this condition is detected early enough by your dentist or physician then an orthodontist (specialist in correcting problems with teeth and jaws) can perform a series of operations to correct the problem. In severe cases, the jaw may have to be surgically restructured to bring it back to a normal size and position.
In older children and adults, retrognathia may come to the attention of a doctor during a routine medical examination. Your physician may refer you to an endocrinologist or other specialist in order to determine the cause of the condition.
In many cases, no specific cause can be found and retrognathia is thought to occur by chance. It is believed that most cases of prognathism are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors rather than any one specific cause.
How is Retrognathia Treated?
(Prognathism Treatment):
Treatment for retrognathia will vary depending upon the cause and severity of the condition. If the condition is found to be caused by a tumor or other abnormality, treatment may involve surgical removal of the tumor or other treatment of the underlying problem.
If no specific cause can be found, your physician may refer you to an endocrinologist who can test your hormone levels to see if there is an overproduction of HGH.
Treatment for retrognathia may also involve a combination of the following:
Braces, which can be used to move the teeth and jaws into the correct position.
Dental surgeons can often perform procedures to fix minor jaw problems in adults.
Oral surgeons can perform corrective jaw surgery. This is usually only required in more severe cases.
Speech therapy, which can help with difficulties in speaking and chewing.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help retrain the brain to ignore minor imperfections in facial appearance.
Hormone replacement therapy, which may result in the reduction of HGH levels.
In extreme cases where the lower jaw is significantly larger than the upper jaw, a form of surgery known as genioplasty may be performed to correct the problem. This surgical procedure involves the reduction of the size of the chin and jaw, and may also involve repositioning the bottom teeth. This is a major surgery that has significant recovery time, and may not be covered by all medical insurance plans.
It should be noted that treatment for retrognathia is usually only recommended if the condition causes a physical health problem such as difficulty breathing or problems with teeth and gums. If the condition is due to psychological factors such as social anxiety or shyness, then treatment will focus on therapy to help the patient become more comfortable with their appearance.
In this post, you’ve read an amazing article about retrognathia. You can also find more info about symptoms and treatments of retrognathia on this site. You may find retrognathia drug and retrognathia surgery information useful.
Thanks for reading!
Sources & references used in this article:
Bilateral sagittal split surgery is not a predictable treatment for temporomandibular dysfunction in patients with retrognathia by M Kuhlefelt, P Laine, H Thorén – Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology …, 2016 – Elsevier
Results in the Treatment with Twin Block Polymeric Appliance of the Retrognathic Mandible in Sleep Apnea Patients by OD Radescu, S Albu, M Baciut, S Bran… – Materiale …, 2017 – revmaterialeplastice.ro
Association between mandibular retrognathia and TMJ disorders in adult females by JR Miller, JA Burgess… – Journal of Public Health …, 2004 – Wiley Online Library
