Is tooth agenesis related to brainstem anomalies in myelomeningocele patients with Chiari II malformations?

Defects in the prenatal development of the brainstem can result in cranial nerve deficiencies. As the development of tooth germ is dependent on n. trigeminus, which originates from the brainstem, the hypothesis underlying this study was that anomalies of the brainstem would lead to an increased prevalence of tooth agenesis. Twenty-three patients (13 F and 10 M, age range 6-37 years) were studied, all with myclomeningocele and brainstem anomalies (Chiari II). They were examined retrospectively from the data in journals and dental radiographs and compared to available data on the prevalence of tooth agenesis in the Swedish population. Our hypothesis was rejected, since there was insignificant difference in the frequency of agenesis in our material (8.7%) compared with that of the Swedish population (7.4%).