Dental abnormalities in rare genetic bone diseases: Literature review

Currently, over 500 rare genetic bone disorders are identified. These diseases are often accompanied by dental abnormalities, which are sometimes the first clue for an early diagnosis. However, not many dentists are sufficiently familiar with phenotypic abnormalities and treatment approaches when they encounter patients with rare diseases. Such patients often need dental treatment but have difficulties in finding a dentist who can treat them appropriately. Herein we focus on major dental phenotypes and summarize their potential causes and mechanisms, if known. We discuss representative diseases, dental treatments, and their effect on the oral health of patients and on oral health-related quality of life. This review can serve as a starting point for dentists to contribute to early diagnosis and further investigate the best treatment options for patients with rare disorders, with the goal of optimizing treatment outcomes.

A cephalometric method to diagnosis the craniovertebral junction abnormalities in osteogenesis imperfecta patients

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a hereditary bone fragility disorder that in most patients is caused by mutations affecting collagen type I. Their typical oral and craneofacial characteristics (Dentinogenesis imperfecta type I and class III malocclusion), involve the dentist in the multidisciplinary team that treat these patients. It is usual to perform lateral skull radiographs for the orthodontic diagnosis. In addition, this radiograph is useful to analyse the junctional area between skull base and spine, that could be damaged in OI. Pathology in the craneovertebral junction (CVJ) is a serious complication of OI with a prevalence ranging from rare to 37%. To diagnosis early skull base anomalies in these patients, previously the neurological symptoms have been appear, we make a simple cephalometric analysis of the CVJ. This method has four measurements and one angle. Once we calculate the values of the OI patient, we compare the result with the mean and the standard deviations of an age-appropriate average in healthy controls. If the patient has a result more than 2,5 SDs above the age-appropriate average in healthy controls, we should to refer the patient to his/her pediatrician or neurologist. These doctors have to consider acquiring another diagnostic images to be used to determine cranial base measurements with more reliability. Thereby, dentists who treat these patients, must be aware of the normal radiological anatomy of the cervical spine on the lateral cephalogram. Key words:Osteogenesis imperfecta, craniovertebral junction, cephalometric.