Dental management in autosomal recessive (intermediate) osteopetrosis: a case report

Osteopetrosis (Albers-Schonberg disease) is the name given to a group of diseases that affect the growth and remodeling of bones. It is characterized by overgrowth and sclerosis of bone, resulting in thickening and narrowing of the marrow cavities throughout the skeleton. The exact cause is unknown, although failure of bone resorption related to defective osteoclasts is considered to be the basis of the problem. These patients present a significant challenge to the dentist for management of jaw and dental problems, as the disease process demands special strategies which are often at variance with conventional dentistry. The purpose of this paper was to report the management and follow-up of a child with intermediate autosomal recessive osteopetrosis who primarily complained of dental problems.