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Five mandibular incisors: an autosomal recessive trait?
1Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Lebanese University School of Dentistry, Beirut, Lebanon.
British Dental Journal
|September 30, 2004
Summary
A rare dental anomaly, a fifth mandibular incisor, was observed in a Lebanese family. This familial occurrence suggests a potential genetic link for this supernumerary tooth.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Human Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Supernumerary teeth are relatively common dental anomalies.
- Eumorphic fifth mandibular incisors are exceptionally rare, with few documented cases.
- Familial occurrences of dental anomalies can provide insights into genetic etiologies.
Observation:
- A large, consanguineous Lebanese family was studied.
- Four individuals within the family exhibited a fifth, normally formed incisor in the anterior mandible.
- This represents a novel familial aggregation of this specific dental trait.
Findings:
- The presence of a fifth mandibular incisor in multiple family members suggests a hereditary component.
- The pattern observed is consistent with a nonsyndromic trait, meaning it is not associated with other medical conditions.
- Autosomal recessive inheritance is a plausible genetic model for this trait within the family.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of dental anomalies and their genetic basis.
- Further genetic studies are warranted to identify the specific genes involved in fifth incisor development.
- The findings contribute to the literature on rare dental variations and their inheritance patterns.