Familial Aggregation Pattern of Non-Syndromic Combined Aplasia of Maxillary Lateral Incisors and Third Molars

Abstract

Congenitally missing teeth, the most common dental anomaly, refers to teeth whose germ did not develop sufficiently to allow the differentiation of the dental tissues. This study aimed to determine the importance of genetic investigations on oral health-related quality of life in children with congenitally missing lateral incisors. We are presenting a genetic study performed by the A.S. Division of Medical Genetics, in Bucharest, Romania, in the case of a patient (16-year-old boy) presenting bilateral maxillary lateral incisor agenesis in the permanent dentition, a hereditary, non-syndromic familial hypodontia in three successive generations, which suggest an autosomal dominant inheritance, combined with aplasia of maxillary third molars. The oral visual examination and the radiological exam of the patient were completed with the oral photographic examination, the family historyinvestigation, the pedigree, and the analysis of the studied family’s genealogical tree, after acquiring the signed informed consent of the patient. The genetic investigations of the congenitally missing lateral incisors, allow the calculation of the anomaly recurrence risk amongst offspring, and the direct and specialized monitoring of affected families, in order to limit the potential complications.