Rickets - A case report.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Nutritional Deficiencies
• Skeletal Disorders

Background:

• Rickets is a systemic disorder characterized by impaired bone mineralization due to deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate.
• Dental manifestations are common in rickets, impacting tooth development and increasing susceptibility to oral pathology.
• Early recognition of oral signs is vital for timely intervention and prevention of long-term health consequences.

Observation:

• The case involves a 3-year-old girl presenting with characteristic dental findings of rickets.
• Key oral findings include enamel hypoplasia, delayed tooth eruption, and spontaneous gingival and dental abscesses without preceding trauma or caries.
• Radiographic evidence showed enlarged pulp chambers, shortened roots, poorly defined lamina dura, and hypoplastic alveolar ridges.

Findings:

• Rickets significantly affects dental health, leading to structural abnormalities and predisposition to severe infections.
• Spontaneous dental abscesses are a hallmark oral manifestation, often necessitating extraction or pulpectomy.
• Radiographic features such as large pulp chambers and short roots are indicative of underlying rickets.

Implications:

• Dentists and physicians must collaborate for early diagnosis of rickets through oral examination.
• Prompt identification and management of rickets can prevent severe dental complications and improve patient outcomes.
• This case highlights the importance of considering nutritional deficiencies in the differential diagnosis of pediatric dentalpathologies.