Prevalence of dental developmental anomalies of permanent teeth in children and their influence on esthetics

A Narrative Review of the Association between Dental Abnormalities and Chemotherapy

Dental abnormalities are often detected in childhood and are reported to occur with high prevalence in patients who have undergone cancer treatment or chemotherapy. We performed a literature search of PubMed from 2004 to 2024 using the terms "dental anomaly" and "panoramic examination", and 298 potentially relevant articles were found. Thirty-one articles about dental abnormalities matched the eligibility criteria and were extracted for this review. Although the prevalence of tooth agenesis and microdontia in the general population was reported to be approximately 10% and 3%, respectively, the prevalence in patients who had undergone cancer treatment or chemotherapy was higher in all surveys, suggesting that the treatment is related to the occurrence of dental abnormalities. It is important to continue long-term follow-up with patients not only during treatment but also after the completion of treatment. Dental professionals should provide information about dental abnormalities to patients, their guardians, and medical professionals, which may lead to improvement in the quality of life of patients.

From teeth to ethnicity: A neural network approach to predicting population of origin through dental traits and anomalies

Background

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of dental traits and anomalies in five North Indian populations (Khas Bodhi, Jaat, Khatri, Garhwali, and Gujjar) and predict the population of origin based on these traits and anomalies for forensic applications.

Methods

We assessed dental traits and anomalies in 454 individuals through intraoral examination. Neural network analysis was employed to predict the population of origin based on a combination of dental traits and anomalies.

Results

Shovel-shaped incisors exhibited the highest prevalence among the studied traits and anomalies, occurring in 65.4% of the sample. Moreover, shovel-shaped incisors were found to be the most important predictor of population. Neural network analysis indicated that the most accurate population prediction among the studied populations was for the Garhwali origin, achieving a recall rate of 78.3%. While this may appear relatively low, it is crucial to emphasise that the proposed method serves as a corroborative tool for various forensic investigations.

Conclusion

This study suggests that dental traits and anomalies can be valuable in predicting the population of origin within Indian populations for forensic purposes. The work enhances the forensic identification process by providing an additional layer of evidence for consideration in identifying both individuals and their ethnic backgrounds. Further research is necessary to enhance the robustness of prediction models.

Assessment of prevalence and distribution of congenital missing teeth among patients visiting tertiary care hospital: A radiographic study

Introduction

Dental Agenesis is the usual developmental dental anomaly involving both primary and permanent dentition but most commonly it affects the permanent teeth. Genetic mutations in genes like MSX, PAX9,TGFA and AXIN2 are the likely primary contributors to tooth agenesis. Identifying the prevalence and distribution of congenital missing teeth allows for early detection and intervention which is crucial for preventing or mitigating potential dental issues that may arise due to missing teeth.

Aim & objectives

To assess the prevalence and distribution of congenitally missing teeth across different quadrants of the jaw among patients visiting to the Dental out patient department at Tertiary Care Centre of Lucknow city.

Material & method

A Questionnaire and orthopantomogram based cross-sectional study was conducted on both male and female patients aged between 15 and 30 years, coming for evaluation of their dental health problems to the hospital. Written informed consent was obtained.

Results

The overall prevalence of CMT was found to be 33.3 %. The significant difference was observed in proportion of CMT between Maxilla and Mandible sites (p = 0.008). Higher prevalence was in females compared to males for both maxillary and mandibular congenital missing teeth. (p = 0.020).

Conclusion

The most common CMT were third molars followed by lateral incisors. The insights derived from the study would aid dental professional in gaining a deeper comprehension of tooth agenesis.

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.

[Prevalence of dental anomalies of size and shape, in pediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years of the city of huánuco 2019-2022]

Objective

To determine the prevalence of dental anomalies of size and shape in patients aged 6 to 17 years, treated in Huánuco from 2019 to 2022.

Methodology

The study was descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional with a sample of 362 Panoramic radiographs of patients 6 to 17 years of age. I make detailed observations for each observation sheet, the patient's age, sex, dental shape and size alterations, the type of dentition presented, the affected quadrant and the type of dental piece.

Results

A higher prevalence of dental anomaly of shape was found with 85.10% (308) and of size with 14.9% (54). In relation to the quadrant, the tooth with rhizomycorrhexis presented the highest prevalence with 18.5% (10) in quadrant II while macrodontia presented 13.0% (7) in quadrant I and II, while the shape alteration of the shovel tooth presented the highest prevalence in quadrant II with 24.5% (76).

Conclusion

There is a higher prevalence of shape anomalies as opposed to size anomalies that were less prevalent in the research work, being the female sex and the age group 11 to 17 years the most prevalent.

Odontoma and other congenital dental anomalies: Implications for forensic identification

Forensic odontology plays a crucial role in establishing the identity in mass disasters and criminal cases with high accuracy. Dental anomalies and features help in such situations. Congenital and developmental dental anomalies can be easily documented to establish distinctive and individualistic characteristics of an individual. The location, number of teeth involved, and the type of anomaly vary between individuals. Similarly, dental malformations also assist greatly in the identification process. Many types of dental anomalies have been studied in the past for their individualistic characteristics in forensic examinations. One such dental anomaly is odontoma, which is a benign odontogenic malformation. This malformation may also help in the identification of the deceased, when recorded and examined accurately. An odontome is a malformed teeth-like structures consisting of enamel, dentin, and pulpal tissue, formed due to the growth of completely differentiated epithelial and mesenchymal cells. If antemortem (AM) dental records incorporate information regarding odontomes and other dental anomalies, including in radiographs, orthopantomograms or microradiographs, positive identification may be established by comparison of these records with postmortem (PM) records. In the present communication, a rare case of compound composite odontoma in the anterior mandible with multiple denticles has been discussed with a brief overview of congenital and developmental dental anomalies. The authors emphasize the importance of such rare dental anomalies and malformations which may be used for identifying the deceased in mass disasters and forensic identification.

Permanent Tooth Agenesis and Associated Dental Anomalies among Orthodontically Treated Children

(1) Background: Tooth agenesis is one of the most common developmental dental anomalies often affecting the maxillary incisors area and premolar regions. (2) Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and distribution of permanent tooth agenesis and the associated dental abnormalities among orthodontically treated children. (3) Materials and Methods: This study was carried out utilizing 3000 pretreatment records of children who underwent orthodontic treatment, 1780 (59%) females and 1220 (41%) males, aged 10-25 years (mean age 15 years). Tooth agenesis and other dental anomalies were surveyed using their panoramic radiographs, according to gender, pattern, and location. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 using t-test or Chi-Square tests. (4) Results: The total number of missing teeth, excluding third molars, was 518 (17%) found in 326 (11%) children. The majority were the maxillary lateral incisors, which was 176 teeth (34%) (p < 0.05). Of them, 111 (63%) were in females, and 65 (37%) were in males. The second most common missing tooth was mandibular second premolars, which was 137 teeth (26%), followed by missing 73 (14%) maxillary second premolars. Impacted teeth had the highest associated dental anomaly prevalence (14.3%), while transposition showed the lowest anomaly prevalence (0.5%). (5) Conclusions: A prevalence of 11% for tooth agenesis was detected in this study. More teeth were missing in the maxilla compare with the mandible. A significant association was found between missing maxillary lateral incisors and missing premolars (p < 0.05). Associated dental anomalies included an increased number of peg-shaped maxillary lateral incisors, palatally displaced and impacted maxillary canines, ectopic teeth, and infra-occluded (submerged) primary second molars.

Dental anomalies in an Albanian orthodontic sample: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the prevalence and the distribution of dental anomalies in an Albanian orthodontic sample.

METHODS

For this retrospective study, a sample of panoramic radiographs (PR) of n. 779 (456 F and 323 M, mean age of 15.1 ± 5.5 years) Albanian subjects with no genetic syndromes or craniofacial malformations (e.g., cleft lip/palate), history of extraction, trauma or previous orthodontic treatment drawn from the archives of the University Dental Clinic Our Lady of Good Counsel, was examined. The inclusion criteria were: subjects from 8 to 30 years of age, good quality of PRs in order to allow the assessment of crown and root development. For different dental anomalies, both the prevalence and the association were evaluated by using Chi-square test (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

24.4% of the sample had at least one dental anomaly and 4.6% had more than one. The following dental anomalies were most prevalent: hypodontia (9.8%), dental impaction (7.6%), and ectopic eruption (5.3%). No statistically significant correlation was found between males and females (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The most common anomalies in this group are found to be those of number and position, and only radiological investigations can reveal either of these anomalies. Early diagnosis of dental anomalies can contribute to prevent their complications and to establish the most suitable therapy to achieve a functional occlusion.

Morphological Diversity of Permanent Maxillary Lateral Incisors and Their Impact on Aesthetics and Function in Orthodontically Treated Patients

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of different crown shapes and associated dental anomalies of the permanent maxillary lateral incisor (PMLI) and their impact on aesthetics and occlusion (function) in orthodontically treated patients. Materials and Methods: The records of 372 subjects, which consisting of study casts, panoramic radiographs and anamnestic data, were investigated for crown shape and associated dental anomalies of PMLI and potential dental treatment to achieve satisfactory aesthetics and function. Descriptive statistics, including means, standard deviations and percentages for the observed variables, were calculated. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test. p-Values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: The results showed that the most common crown shapes of PMLI were trapezoidal-shaped (59.8%), followed by central incisor-shaped (26.7%), canine-shaped (11.2%) and peg-shaped (2.3%), without statistically significant difference between genders. Developmental anomalies were found in 86 (11.6%) PMLI. All subjects with developmental anomalies were included in orthodontic treatment, and 91.2% of them need interdisciplinary treatment to achieve satisfactory aesthetics and function. Conclusions: The morphological diversity and developmental anomalies of the PMLI may affect aesthetics and function and should be considered in treatment planning.

Evaluating the Prevalence and Distribution of Dental Anomalies in the Permanent Dentition of Patients Seeking Dental Care

BACKGROUND

 Disturbances seen during tooth formation result in developmental dental anomalies presenting in the oral cavity. These anomalies manifest as discrepancies in the number, color, size, and shape of the teeth. These dental anomalies can either be acquired, congenital, or developmental. Their early detection and management are necessary as they affect aesthetics and occlusion. The study had the aim of gauging the prevalence of developmental anomalies in the permanent dentition of Indian subjects.

METHODS

A total of 1192 participants recruited from the institute for study purposes, comprising males and females, were examined clinically and radiographically, and their dental casts were also evaluated. These subjects were assessed for anomalies in position, structure, number, and/or shape. Anomalies in the position include transmigration, transportation, and/or ectopic position; anomalies in the structure, including dentinogenesis imperfecta or amelogenesis imperfecta; anomalies in number, including hyperdontia or hypodontia; and anomalies in shape, including peg laterals, taurodontism, fusion, dens evaginatus, talon cusp, and/or microdontia.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was seen in unilateral microdontia and dentinogenesis imperfecta between males and females, with attained p-values of 0.003 and 0.06, respectively. The results of the present study showed that 9.89% (n = 118) study subjects, whereas 1% (n = 12) study subjects had two dental anomalies in their permanent dentitions, with no subject presenting more than two dental anomalies, showing that various dental anomalies have a low prevalence in the Indian population.

CONCLUSION

The present study has led to the conclusion that the prevalence of dental anomalies is low in Indian subjects. However, these anomalies should be detected and treated early to prevent them from causing further complications.

The Study of Prevalence and Distribution of Shape Anomalies of Teeth in Indian Population on the Basis of Age and Gender

Introduction: Dental anomaly of shape leads to various clinical dental pathologies requiring the intervention of a dental specialist. Early diagnosis and intervention in earlier stages can restore a near-normal dentition and esthetics. So, the present study was undertaken to determine the prevailing dental anomalies of shape and its various subtypes in various age groups and gender variations.

Materials and methods: Retrospective dental casts and radiographs were evaluated in 3,000 cases consisting of an equal proportion of males and females. Only cases with an age range from 10 to 40 years were included in the study. Dental anomalies of shape were evaluated for the presence of Gemination, fusion, talon cusp, dens evaginates, the cusp of carabelli, dens invaginatus, taurodontism, and dilacerations and recorded.

Result: A total of 538 (17.9%) cases were found to have dental anomalies of shape which included 288 (19.2%) males and 250 (16.6%) females. Dilaceration was found to be the most common (9.2%) dental anomaly of shape followed successively by taurodontism (3.7%), talon cusp (2.23%), and the cusp of carabelli (1.4%). Most of the shape anomalies showed male predilection. A higher prevalence of most dental anomalies of shape was found in the younger age group of 10 to ≤25 years as it is not linked with age but still has got importance to know while the treatment is carried out in this age group.

Conclusion: It is quite imperative to have complete knowledge of trends and patterns of shape anomalies in India. It will guide dental practitioners to formulate a treatment plan on the basis of existing prevailing anomalies.

Oligomicrodontia in a Pediatric Cancer Survivor after Chemotherapy: A Case Report

Chemotherapy used on pediatric patients especially those below 3 years of age causes disturbances in dental development. The aim of this case report was to present the late dental effects of chemotherapy in a patient treated for anaplastic ependymoma (WHO III) at an early age. Radiographic findings at the age of 9 years showed oligomicrodontia of six teeth, maxillary lateral incisors, and maxillary and mandibular first premolars. Pediatric cancer survivors after chemotherapy have an increased risk of one or more dental development disorders. To ensure proper dental care and to assess the long-term effects on oral health, tooth development, and occlusion, the involvement of a dentist is crucial. Adequate diagnosis and well-planned treatment of the dental defect can significantly improve patient oral health-related quality of life.

Prevalence and Distribution of Nonsyndromic Dental Anomalies in Children in Eastern Saudi Arabia: A Radiographic Study

OBJECTIVES

To report the prevalence and distribution of nonsyndromic dental anomalies in children in eastern Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This retrospective records review study involved radiographic examination of 6-18 years old pediatric patients who attended the Dental Hospital of the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Four calibrated examiners recorded nonsyndromic dental anomalies from patients' digital orthopantomograms (OPG). The anomalies recorded were related to tooth number, shape, and location. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and Fisher exact tests were used to report prevalence and differences by gender, nationality, and medical history at the 5% significance level.

RESULTS

Of 2226 reviewed patients' records, 1897 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The study sample had equal distribution of males (52.6%) and females (47.4%) and comprised 81.2% Saudi children with a mean age of 8.8 ± 1.84 years. Most study subjects (97.8%) were in mixed dentition and 88.7% were healthy. The prevalence of dental anomalies was as follows: teeth rotations (24.5%), ectopically erupted teeth (6%), congenitally missing permanent teeth (5.4%), peg lateral (1.1%), supernumerary (0.5%), gemination (0.3%), and fusion (0.1%). No statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of dental anomalies by patients' gender, medical history, and nationality (p value ≥0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that teeth rotations were the most common dental anomalies followed by ectopic eruptions and congenitally missing teeth. The study findings may guide dental practitioners to better diagnose and manage children with dental anomalies in eastern Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence and distribution of selected developmental dental anomalies in Taif, Saudi population

Background: Developmental dental anomalies are seen as abnormalities in tooth size, shape, position, and structure due to multiple reasons during various stages of tooth development. These anomalies can create disturbances in dental arch lengths and occlusions. Hence, it is very important to treat, recognise and perform proper treatment. The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence and distribution of selected developmental anomalies in shape, size and position of teeth in the Saudi population of Taif Region.

Design and Methods: The study was based on the clinical examination of 2481 adults who are Saudi nationals came for dental treatment from September 2019 to February 2020, at Taif University Dental Hospital, Saudi Arabia. These patients were examined clinically for developmental dental anomalies affecting shape, size and position.

Results:We found that a total of 512 individuals (20.63%) had developmental anomalies and out of which 386 persons (15.56%) had at least one developmental dental anomaly. The frequency and distribution of anomalies of shape and size, number and position were 46.8%, 26.9% and 42.9% respectively. In the present study, 15.56% individuals exhibited at least one anomaly, 8.54% subjects had more than one anomaly and 79.36%.did not any developmental anomaly. On comparison, statistically significant results were seen between different groups of anomalies.

Conclusions: The present study had varying results for the prevalence rate of selected dental anomalies. This variation in results might be due racial differences or discrepancy in sample size or/and diagnostic or inclusion criteria. Treatment of developmental anomalies necessitates a multidisciplinary approach and mostly may comprise of orthodontic correction or prosthetic replacement.

Psychological and Social Effects of Oral Health and Dental Aesthetic in Adolescence and Early Adulthood: An Observational Study

Background: Is well known that oral health and dental aesthetic have significant effects on the sociality of human beings. The aim of the present study was to assess some aspects of oral health with possible repercussions in adolescent and youth, with particular reference to gender differences. Methods: A total of 190 subjects with female prevalence (F = 62.6%, M = 37%) and ages between 14 and 29 years old (Mean = 23.8; SD = 3.27) participated. Evaluation was carried using standardized instruments to assess quality of oral life (PIDAQ), negative impact of oral conditions (OHIP-14), and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale). Correlational and difference analyses and linear regressions were performed. Results: Significant gender differences were found in terms of gender, in reference to variables such as self-confidence and convictions. Positive correlations emerged between psychological impact and social impact, aesthetic concern and social impact, convictions and self-confidence, oral health with psycho-social impact, and aesthetic concern, self-esteem with oral health. Inverse correlations emerged between psycho-social impact and self-confidence, aesthetic concern and self-confidence, oral health, and self-confidence. Multivariate linear regression indicated relations between age and psychological impact, sex and self-confidence, crooked teeth and conviction. Conclusions: The impact of oral health on the psychological well-being of young people is relevant. These factors, if considered within clinical practice, can improve the quality of life of the subject.

Endodontic management of a rare case of the geminated maxillary second molar tooth using CBCT

This report illustrates a rare case of a geminated maxillary right second molar tooth using CBCT in a 23-year-old man with severe pain. Nonsurgical endodontic treatment was performed, which gave rise to an asymptomatic tooth at the 12-month follow-up.

Dental Anomalies' Characteristics

The aim of this study was to characterize dental anomalies. The pretreatment records (photographs and radiographs) of 2897 patients (41.4% males and 58.6% females) were utilized to detect dental anomalies. The dental anomalies studied were related to number, size and shape, position, and eruption. A Chi-square test was carried out to detect associations between dental anomalies, jaw, and sex. A total of 1041 (36%) of the subjects manifested at least one dental anomaly. The prevalence of all dental anomalies was jaw-dependent and greater in the maxilla, except for submerged and transmigrated teeth. The most frequently missing teeth were the maxillary lateral incisor (62.3%) and the mandibular second premolars (60.6%). The most frequent supernumerary teeth were the incisors in the maxilla (97%) and the first premolars in the mandible (43%). Dental anomalies are more frequent in the maxilla and mainly involve the anterior teeth; in the mandible, however, it is the posterior teeth. These differences can be attributed to the evolutionary history of the jaws and their diverse development patterns.

Prevalence of Shape-related Developmental Dental Anomalies in India: A Retrospective Study

Aim and objective

The aim and objective of this study was to review the literature to analyze the prevalence of developmental dental anomalies regarding shape in India.

Background

Although there have been several studies investigating the prevalence of individual dental anomalies related to shape, only a few studies considered all subtypes and their distribution among genders, especially in India.

Results

An electronic search was made in the PUBMED database to review prevalence-based data on developmental dental anomalies related to shape in India up to December 2018. A diverse range of results regarding prevalence of developmental dental anomalies related to shape were seen in these studies due to vast regional, cultural, and ethnic diversities and various environmental factors affecting the tooth development.

Conclusion

There is a necessity to conduct more study on shape-related dental anomalies because there are very limited studies regarding prevalence of concrescence, dilacerations, and accessory root and various associated factors.

Clinical significance

Early diagnosis and timely management of these anomalies can prevent complications. The knowledge on identification and prevalence of dental anomalies helps the dental practitioners improve the treatment plan. The prevalence studies can be of utmost importance in the formulation of oral healthcare programs by using their data to analyze the intensity of dental anomalies.

How to cite this article

Goswami M, Bhardwaj S, Grewal N. Prevalence of Shape-related Developmental Dental Anomalies in India: A Retrospective Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(4):407–411.

Patterns of dental anomalies in patients with nonsyndromic oral cleft

Aim: To characterize the patterns of dental anomalies (DA) in the mixed and permanent dentitions of patients with nonsyndromic oral cleft (NSOC). Methods: This cross-sectional, observational, case-control study included 173 patients, 61 with mixed dentition (NSOC=29 and control=32) and 112 with permanent dentition (NSOC=57 and control=55). All subjected were submitted to clinical and radiographic examination. Dental anomalies of eruption, number, size and shape outside the cleft area were considered. Results: Although there was no statistical significance among patients with mixed dentition, dental agenesis was the anomaly more common in this group. In patients with permanent dentition, a higher prevalence of DA in NSOC group compared to control group was observed (p=0.02). Gyroversion and dental agenesis were the DA more frequently observed in the permanent dentition and the second premolar was the tooth more affected (p=0.003). Mandible and the left side were more involved, and dental agenesis was more frequently found in patients with unilateral cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL±P). Conclusion: Our findings show a higher frequency of DA in NSOCs than in the control group in patients with permanent dentition, mainly due to a higher occurrence of agenesis of second premolars in patients with unilateral NSCL±P.

Rare case of gemination of mandibular third molar-A case report

Fusion and germination are the anomalies that occur due to some developmental eccentricity during the time of morpho-differentiation of the tooth bud and have a close resemblance to each other. The gemination is an attempt of the division of a single tooth into two and, hence, appears as an enlarged single tooth while the tooth count is normal when the affected tooth is counted as one. Its exact pathogenesis is ambiguous. This anomaly has been observed mostly in deciduous dentition as compared to that in permanent dentition. Gemination is rarely associated with the third molar and, hence, the terminology is arguable when this condition is seen in relation to the third molar. In the present article, a case of germination of mandibular third molar has been reported.

Non-syndromic tooth agenesis patterns and their association with other dental anomalies: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and the factors associated with non-syndromic tooth agenesis, besides identifying its pattern of occurrence.

STUDY DESIGN

Pre-orthodontic exams of 3400 subjects, aged 8-30 years, were selected from a radiographic center in Brazil. Panoramic and periapical radiographs were analyzed to verify the presence of tooth agenesis and other six dental anomalies. Descriptive statistics were calculated using the Tooth Agenesis Code tool and, to evaluate significant associations, a negative binomial regression model was constructed. Besides, unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated for the bivariate and the multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Prevalence of tooth agenesis was 3.0% (n = 68) and 41 different phenotypic patterns were observed. Teeth most often symmetrically missing were maxillary lateral incisors (13.2%) and mandibular second premolars (8.8%). Females (PR = 3.49, CI 95% = 1.96-6.19) presented more tooth agenesis. Other dental anomalies, such as palatal displacement of maxillary canine and infraocclusion of primary molar were significantly more frequent (p < 0.001) in subjects with agenesis.

CONCLUSION

There was a strong relationship between tooth agenesis and gender and the association with other dental anomalies was significant, with the exception of the supernumerary teeth, which seems to be independent.

Oral Symptoms and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in People with Rare Diseases in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The aim of this study was to collect information on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in people with rare diseases. Methods: A questionnaire comprising free text questions and the German version of the standardized Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire on OHRQoL was developed. All participants who indicated oral symptoms in the questionnaire were included in a cluster analysis. Different cluster analyses were performed (Ward's, k-Means) to find symptom profile groups in the data. Results: A total of 484 questionnaires with 96 rare diseases were included in the study. The most reported symptoms were anomalies of the tooth formation, dysgnathia, changes in number of the teeth, and malocclusions. The OHIP mean values of the five resulting symptom clusters ranged from 15.1 to 19.9, which is very high compared to the general population in Germany, which has a mean value of 4.09. Discussion: All investigated symptoms show a negative association with OHRQoL, but the strongest were for symptoms of the oral mucosa and periodontal diseases. All the symptoms described in this cluster analysis can lead to considerably higher mean values of the OHIP total score among people with rare disease and thus to worse OHRQoL than reported in the general population.