Obscure Dental Diseases You May Never Have Heard Of (Or Had)

Medical science traverses many exotic areas in its mission to help those who may suffer from rare diseases and conditions. Obscure dental diseases you may never have heard of (or had) is written with this in mind. Cleidocranial Dysplasia is one such condition, which falls under this category. It is a genetic condition caused by problems with the RUNX2 gene. This gene performs a prominent role in the formation of osteoblasts, which are the cells responsible for creating bone in the developing body.

Rare Dental Diseases Like Cleidocranial Dysplasia

Cleidocranial Dysplasia (CCD) is also involved in the maturation of chondrocytes, the cells that develop cartilage. This condition is diagnosed via clinical examination and x-rays. There is, also, testing available for a mutation in the RUNX2 gene. What are the main issues with CCD, as it pertains to oral health?

• First teeth (baby teeth) do not emerge.
• Impacted adult teeth can be encased in bone & are unable to grow unaided.
• Supernumerary teeth (extra teeth) are present & crowded teeth.
• Malocclusion issues – unmet bite, under bite, or open bite.
• Thinness of tooth enamel issues.

CCD Facial & Skull Issues

“Nonclosing or delayed closure of the fontanelles, the soft spots between the skull plates in infants (normally, the skull plates knit together as the baby matures into childhood). A wide, flat or protruding forehead, sometimes with a vertical groove down the center. A low, wide nasal bridge. Wide-set eyes. Small midface and lower jaw. High-arched hard palate or cleft palate. Small or absent sinuses, resulting in sinusitis. Ear problems, including ear infections and sometimes hearing loss.”
– Hopkins Medicine

What Treatments Are Available for CCD?

When it comes to obscure dental diseases you may never have heard of (or had), CCD, depending upon the severity of the condition in the patient, can be treated with a number of procedures. These may include: orthopaedic and facial reconstructive surgeries; spinal fusion; repairs of bone fractures; and a number of other procedures depending upon the individual manifestation of the condition. In the dental sphere: orthodontics and oral surgery is often required to address impacted and extra teeth. Removal of gum tissues where appropriate and braces to guide the growth of teeth. In some cases implants, bridges and/or dentures are utilised for more expedient outcomes. Jaw surgery may be required to fix the bite.

Black Hairy Tongue

This rare dental condition involves the tongue growing longer than normal papillae. This looks dark and furry in appearance and hence the name. It traps bacteria and food detritus around the tongue. Most often caused by poor oral hygiene, smoking and certain medications. Scrapping your own tongue regularly will help and see your dentist if you have concerns about developing black hairy tongue.

Another Rare Condition Is Anodontia

Anodontia, is a genetic disorder, which results in no teeth or only some teeth forming. It can affect first teeth (baby teeth) but is more usually observed impacting adult teeth. Complete Anodontia is described as the condition where no adult teeth form. In the instance of 6 or more teeth are missing, then, this condition is called Oligodontia. There is a further classification of the condition, where 1 to 5 teeth do not form and this is referred to as Hypodontia. Previously the caveat was issued by medical science that these conditions being genetic disorders are irreversible and uncurable but this looks like being no longer the case. New scientific breakthroughs in Japan are seeing natural teeth being regrown via genetic therapies. This is only in the testing stages, as of 2025, but the future looks bright according to reports.

“And that hope, Takahashi claims, should be further encouraged by the fact that we already come pre-loaded with the starting point. He said that his previous research shows that humans have the start of a third set of teeth already embedded in our mouths. This is most visibly exhibited by the 1 percent of humans with hyperdontia, the growing of more than a full set of teeth. And Takahashi believes that activating that third set of buds with the right gene manipulation could promote tooth regrowth. If all goes well in the clinical trial, the world may have more teeth as soon as 2030.”
– Popular Mechanics

Too Many Teeth Or Hyperdontia

Supernumerary means too many of something and in this instance it is teeth. In the case of Hyperdontia it is most usually involving upper teeth. Probably not really that rare, as many folk find themselves in this boat. The usual remedy for this condition is the extraction of the extra teeth. In fact, in lots of instances these extra teeth do not come through but rather develop inside the gum. This causes crooked eruptions of teeth and overcrowding.

Tonsil Stones

Tonsilloliths or tonsil stones form from bacteria, food detritus and dead cells. These hard deposits are found in the crevices of tonsils. Bad breath and discomfort are their main symptomatic features. If you have this strange sensation at the back of your throat you may like to consult with your dentist about whether you have tonsil stones. Again, better oral hygiene is an effective solution to this condition. Gargling with salt water, or a good antiseptic mouth wash, may do the job but if it persists see your dentist.

Tooth Germination

Obscure dental diseases you may never have heard of (or had). In this exotic budding, you get two teeth coming from a single bud. The end result can be a super large tooth or disfigured tooth. Often this contains a double chamber of dentin pulp but with just the one root. Most commonly, germinated teeth can result in overcrowding and a misaligned bite. Plus, tooth decay can end up occurring where the two chambers meet. Treatment for this condition may involve removal or if there is limited or no overcrowding leaving it alone.

Talon Cusps Forming

Conical growth occurring at the rear of teeth. Looking like a talon, which is a claw for those unfamiliar with the term. Birds of prey have talons. This hard growth can cause malocclusion problems and crowding issues within the mouth. It can, also, irritate the inner cheek, tongue and gums. Plus, build up of plaque in the grooves between cusp and tooth would be an issue too. Treatment is removal if the cusp does not contain pulp but if it does then root canal therapy might be required instead. This condition can develop in adults too.

Obscure Things Like Teeth

Fascination endures when it come to obscure dental diseases you may never have heard of (or had). In the above disorder you can speculate as to the whole idea about vampire fangs in humans and whether cases such as Talon Cusps were involved in spreading this fanciful idea. Teeth, when you think about them dispassionately, are pretty weird in the first place, but it is not easy to think dispassionately about teeth. They are hard things to place in any other context than where they currently fit. Biting down on teeth is no fun at all. Drilling down into the whole concept seems too much hard work. Something best advised left to dentists.

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