Syndromes associated with dental agenesis.

INTRODUCTION

Dental agenesis is the congenital absence of a variable number of teeth due to the lack of formation of the corresponding tooth germ. The aim of this work was to investigate the syndromic conditions characterized by dental agenesis.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Based on the research conducted through the OMIM® (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) and PubMed online databases, more than ninety syndromes associated with severe or moderate agenesis have been found.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The main clinical features of these syndromes are described, especially those concerning the stomatognathic apparatus, referring to the most recent literature. Among these syndromes there are three clinical conditions associated with dental agenesis that are common for the clinician: Down Syndrome, ectodermal dysplasia and labio-palatal cleft.

CONCLUSIONS

It must be kept in mind that the success of the treatment of these patients is based on the compliance of the patient as well as on the collaboration among specialists.