Dental anomalies associated with genetic factors

The article reviews the association between dental anomalies and genetic diseases. Knowledge of these hereditary diseases will enable the dentist to make a more extensive analysis of the families in which such diseases occur, and above all to evaluate more precisely the dental aspects that such conditions favour. This will lead to better management of diseases linked to malocclusion, congenital absence of teeth and anomalous development of dental tissues. Hereditary diseases are caused either by a single mutant gene, inherited from 1 parent and acting as dominant gene, or from a pair of mutant genes, inherited from both parents and acting recessively. Autosomal-dominant and autosomal-recessive inherited diseases are described, together with hereditary sex-linked conditions and those of multi-factorial origin. The purpose is to review such diseases so that the dentist can make an early diagnosis in clinical practice, check the predisposition toward such diseases and put in place preventive measures.