Skeletal and dental patterns in patients with severe congenital absence of teeth.

INTRODUCTION

Children with severe congenital absence of teeth present uncommon morphologies and therapeutic challenges. This study was designed to investigate the characteristic skeletal and dental features of this group.

METHODS

A group of 28 children with at least 10 congenitally missing teeth (excluding third molars) was examined roentgenographically. The data were collected from their intraoral series or panoramic views and lateral cephalograms. The results of their cephalometric analyses were compared with classic cephalometric norms and with local population norms.

RESULTS

Specific patterns of incisor, premolar, and third molar absence emerged. The cephalometric parameters of the children with severe absence differed from the classic norms in bimaxillary retrognathism, chin angle, and maxillary incisor inclination. These children differed from the Israeli norms in almost all parameters examined.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with severe congenital absence of teeth have unique dental and skeletal patterns.