Genetic mutations in certain head and neck conditions of interest to the dentist.

This article identifies certain syndromes of the head and neck, which a dentist may see in clinical practice, and relates these syndromes to their sites of mutation on involved genes. This paper is timely with the near completion of the Human Genome Project, the mapping of the entire human genetic material. Knowing the site of the genetic lesion is important in helping clinicians understand the genetic basis for these conditions, and may help in our future understanding of remedies and treatments.