Oral findings in fragile X syndrome

Abstract

This study compares the oral findings in fragile X syndrome individuals to those of normal age-matched patients. Sixteen fra(X) males (mean age 22 10/12 years) had a low caries rate (decayed, missing and filled surfaces (DMFS) = 12.3) and minimal intraoral hard or soft tissue disease. Rate of malocclusion, as determined by the first permanent molar classification of Angle, was not significantly different from that of matched subjects. Fra(X) subjects had a significantly higher occurrence of malocclusion as compared to matched subjects using crossbite and openbite as criteria. Palatal dimensions of fra(X) subjects did not differ significantly from those of the matched sample. The fra(X) males also demonstrated significantly more severe occlusal wear of their teeth than the matched sample.

Caries experience and salivary aspects in individuals with fragile X syndrome

“…As the age of the individuals surveyed increased, caries experience also increased (Table 1). This result was also found in the study of Shellhart et al 12 who also evaluated caries experience in FXS. This reinforces the need to plan and execute measures for the prevention and control of oral diseases from an early age in addition to requiring the establishment of protocols for use in reducing caries.…”

“…8,11 In this way, patients with various syndromes, particularly those who experience neuropsychomotor development delay, can be considered at high risk for tooth decay and other oral diseases. 10,12,13 Oral condition studies and studies on dental treatment characteristics of patients with FXS are rare, so it is believed that the dental needs of these patients have not been met, are related to poor hygiene, and are reinforced by salivary characteristics, the socioeconomic means of the patients, and the use of controlled drugs, such as anticonvulsants and antianxiety drugs, which cause hyposalivation and predispose the patient to oral diseases. 14 Several authors have verified correlations among salivary flow, pH, buffering capacity, cariogenic bacteria and caries experience in different groups of patients, both healthy and systemically compromised; however, these characteristics have not yet been studied in FXS.…”

Fragile X syndrome: panoramic radiographic evaluation of dental anomalies, dental mineralization stage, and mandibular angle

“…Our results suggest that the long face observed in the patients with FXS 2,4,7,15 could explain the increase in mandibular angle. Further evaluation of cephalometric studies is necessary to confirm the above mentioned hypothesis.…”

“…Individuals with FXS show specific characteristics, such as low caries prevalence, problems of cross and open bite, severe occlusal wear and dental changes including impacted canine, congenital absence of premolar, premolar supernumerary, and a large hypoplastic defect in a tooth alone, as compared with normal individuals 15 .…”

Poster presentations

“…Reports of orofacial findings in FraX have been remarkably scarce (3,4). The mean relative dental age is advanced and there may be Pierre-Robin anomaly, midface hypoplasia and excessive tooth wear (5)(6)(7)(8). We report a further case, a 32 year old male with an affected sibling, who also presented with hepatitis B carriage, thrombocytopenia and was on multiple psychoactive drug therapy.…”