You got your beautiful blue eyes from your mother and your cheekbones from your father. You know that you got an increased propensity for colon cancer from your grandfather, and your risk of heart disease is higher thanks to your grandmother. Guess what? Your genetic inheritance doesn’t stop at those traits or increased risk of diseases–even your smile can be hereditary. Inherited Dental Traits Some of the most commonly inherited dental traits are the size, spacing, and alignment of your teeth. If your mom had a space between her two front teeth, known as a diastema, you are likely to have it, as well. If your dad had an over bite, you may get one also. Some common problems that can be inherited include:

• Widely spaced teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Over bite
• Under bite
• Cross bite
• Open bite
• Missing teeth, known as enodontia
• Extra teeth, known as supernumerary teeth

You may also inherit defects in the formation of your gum enamel. For example, amelogenesis imperfect can lead to less than normal production of problems in the hardening of the enamel. Dentinogenesis imperfect leads to a problem with the formation of dentin, which makes up the majority of the tooth structure. The condition can also cause the enamel coating to flake off. If you inherited any of the common problems above, Sunrise Dental can help. Contact our Raleigh dental office today by submitting your information or feel free to call us at 919.878.0055 to schedule your appointment! If you are located in Chapel Hill or Durham, please call: Chapel Hill Dental Office: 919-929-3996 Durham Dental Office: 919.493.3355 Stay tuned next month for Part II of Genetics and Your Oral Health!