Prenatal traces of aberrant neurofacial growth

The interrelation between the development of the brain/peripheral nerves and that of the surrounding bone tissue is termed neuro-osteology. In orthodontic and pediatric practice the development of the hard tissues is evaluated radiographically, but the development of the neural tissue within the bone tissue is not evaluated. In this review the emphasis is placed on two neuro-osteologic interrelations that can be observed on profile radiographs and orthopantomograms, respectively. One is the connection between the pituitary gland of the central nervous system and the sella turcica (profile radiograph), and the other is the association between the peripheral nerves and the development of the dentition (orthopantomogram). Pituitary gland/sella turcica: The correlation between prenatal malformation in the pituitary gland/sella turcica and the postnatal morphology of the sella turcica in holoprosencephaly, spina bifida/myelomeningocele, and cri-du-chat syndrome is demonstrated. Peripheral nerves/dentition: The prenatal innervation of the dentition is presented. Agenesis and tooth malformation occur in constant patterns within the dental arch fields that share the same innervation. The findings demonstrate that in postnatal diagnosis of the cranium and the teeth, traces of prenatal aberrations can be found that are important for neurofacial growth.