Congenitally missing teeth in the Israeli cleft population

Area of Science:

• Dental Research
• Genetics
• Pediatric Dentistry

Background:

• Congenitally missing teeth (CMT) are a common dental anomaly.
• Clefts are complex craniofacial malformations often associated with dental anomalies.
• Understanding CMT prevalence in specific populations is crucial for targeted dental care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of congenitally missing teeth (CMT) in Israeli children with various types of clefts.
• To analyze the distribution of CMT based on cleft type, sex, origin, and tooth type.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 179 Israeli children with cleft lip, cleft lip and alveolar ridge, cleft lip and palate, or cleft palate was studied.
• Diagnosis of CMT was confirmed using panoramic, occlusal, and periapical radiography.
• Data were analyzed considering patient sex, origin, cleft type, tooth type, and laterality of hypodontia.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of CMT was observed, with 67.6% of patients exhibiting hypodontia, totaling 246 missing teeth.
• Cleft lip and palate was the most commonly affected cleft type, with 195 missing teeth.
• Maxillary incisors were the most frequently missing teeth; hypodontia and malformations were more common on the cleft side.

Conclusions:

• The frequency of CMT in the studied Israeli cleft population is significantly higher than in the general population.
• These findings align with global observations regarding CMT prevalence in individuals with clefts.
• This study highlights the need for comprehensive dental monitoring in children with clefts.