Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
12.4K
Rare diseases: Challenges for optimal oral health
Davis C Thomas1, J Tim Wright2
1Center for Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ.
Summary
Millions with rare diseases need dental care, but few cures exist. This special issue aims to classify rare diseases affecting oral health to improve diagnostics and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sciences
- Dental Sciences
- Genetics
Background:
- Approximately 30 million Americans have rare diseases, often with genetic origins impacting craniofacial structures.
- Limited cures exist for rare diseases, posing challenges for diagnostics and treatment.
- Dental providers play a crucial role in managing the oral health of individuals with rare diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address oral health care challenges in patients with rare diseases.
- To present a series of articles focusing on rare diseases impacting oral health.
- To propose a novel classification system for rare diseases with shared etiopathogenesis and phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- An exhaustive literature search was conducted across five major databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE).
- The search focused on articles related to rare diseases and their impact on oral health and care from 1990 to March 2026.
Main Results:
- No current reliable classification system effectively groups rare diseases with shared clinical features.
- This special issue introduces a potential new classification to group rare diseases based on similar etiopathogenesis and phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Managing rare disorders necessitates multidisciplinary teams of specialists and advocates.
- Comprehensive care must address developmental, structural, functional, psychosocial, and economic aspects for affected patients.
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