Orthodontic treatment in children and adolescent patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia: A case-control study

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare genetic disease that disturbs bone and teeth mineralization. It also affects craniofacial growth and patients with XLH often require orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to describe changes in the dental health of XLH children during orthodontic treatment compared with those in matched controls undergoing similar orthodontic procedures.

For this retrospective case-control study, we included all individuals less than 16 years old diagnosed with XLH, orthodontically treated in our centre from 2016 to 2022 and pair-matched them to patients with no chronic or genetic conditions. Clinical and radiological parameters concerning their malocclusion, craniofacial discrepancy and the characteristics and iatrogenic effects of their orthodontic treatment were analysed.

Fifteen XLH patients (mean age: 11.3 ± 2.1), pair-matched to 15 control patients were included. Orthodontic treatment was successfully conducted in XLH patients with slightly shorter duration and similar iatrogenic effects as in the control group, except for the occurrence of dental abscess during and after orthodontic tooth movement. XLH patients did not show more relapse than the controls.

Despite the presence of oral manifestations of XLH such as spontaneous abscesses, XLH patients can undergo orthodontic treatment with no obvious additional iatrogenic effects.