Dentition Defects: Kennedy Classification

Changes in the sequence of the dentition can carry a violation of the continuity and unity of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, and the causes of this phenomenon can be completely different. This includes injuries and bruises, infectious diseases of the oral cavity, the lack of proper treatment for caries, resulting in complications.

Kennedy Classification of Defects

There are several ways to describe this pathology. The most common is Kennedy classification. It is based on the following defects:

• the first group - the dentition is limited on both sides by the 5th or 6th tooth, while there are no chewing crowns;

• the second group - the dentition is shortened due to the absence of molars on one or the other side;

• the third group - the chewing crown is preserved, but there are no teeth in the lateral zone;

• fourth group - the structure of the anterior portion of the jaw is disrupted, in particular, there are no fangs or incisors.

If Kennedy’s classification is used for diagnosis, orthopedics implies a difficult treatment, because if there are several anomalies at once, the disease is assigned a lower group. Because of this, the prosthetics plan is changing. Different clinical cases may belong to the same group.

Causes of dentition defects

There are several reasons that lead to the appearance of a problem (for their elimination, pathology must be assigned to a specific group, for which Kennedy classification exists):

1. Congenital abnormalities, in particular adentia (absence of teeth) due to mother’s illness during pregnancy, which may cause tooth rudiments to be absent, there may also be errors in the structure of enamel, which is inherited.
2. The presence of bad habits. In children - the use of a dummy and artificial feeding, sucking fingers, in adults, the habit of cracking nuts, such as pistachios, can lead to tooth loss.
3. Caries, if left untreated. A regular visit to the dentist will help to keep the dentition intact.
4. Inflammatory processes. With the formation of purulent inflammations, the tooth must be removed immediately. Periodontitis, cysts, periodontitis and other dental diseases can lead to this.
5. Mechanical injuries, which is especially true at the age of 6-9 years. During this period, primary teeth change to molars, and a strong blow can lead to damage to the root.
6. Children's diseases, such as rickets, pneumonia, acute respiratory diseases that appear during the formation of teeth. They have a negative effect on the structure of the central incisors.
7. The presence of neoplasms in the periodontium. If it is found, then immediate tooth extraction is necessary. Neoplasms can occur as a result of a malfunction of the thyroid gland, gastrointestinal tract, as well as a lack of vitamins.

Symptoms of Defects

Kennedy's classification of defects indicates that the problem arises from the loss of a tooth or its development. Symptoms depend on many factors:

• the exact location of the defect (these can be the lateral or front teeth on the lower or upper jaw);
• flawed parameters;
• type of defect (may be included or terminal);
• bite structures;
• patient age;
• gum conditions and teeth present;
• time from the moment of tooth loss to the start of treatment;
• causes of the defect.

To identify a defect, you must go to the dentist's office to conduct an examination and determine the problem. The main complaints from patients who make people go to the doctor are:

• malocclusion;
• lack of ability to fully chew food;
• jaw bone deformation;
• in some cases, diction disorders.

Elimination of the defect depends on the group of the disease, for which you need to use a certain scheme, and Kennedy classification is most often used. Before prosthetics or implantation, the dentist must carry out professional toothbrushing, during which he eliminates caries and eliminates any inflammatory processes.

Prevention Methods

An adult can independently take measures to prevent the appearance of defects, which Kennedy classification will help diagnose. The main enemy in this situation is caries, therefore adequate oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist are necessary. This also applies to children. Parents can ignore the baby's oral hygiene with milk teeth, because they believe that they will fall out and do not need care. But this is not so. Also, if a malocclusion and supernumerary teeth are detected, they must be treated on time. Ignoring any problems in the oral cavity can aggravate the situation and lead to tooth loss.