Book Description

Dental anomalies are craniofacial abnormalities of form, function, or position of the teeth, bones, and tissues of the jaw and mouth. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) estimates that in the United States a baby is born every hour with a craniofacial defect (1). Genetics plays a very important role in normal craniofacial development, abnormal dental anomalies, and different dental diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, and dental malocclusion (2). The most common problems in dentistry are dental caries, periodontal problems, dental anomalies, and malocclusion. Mainly a multifactorial etiology for all the conditions are there, but most of the times genetic condition prevails (3). The genetic causes of dental pathologies are multiple. Phenotype and severity is dependent on the affected gene, the type and location of the mutations (4). Dental anomalies can range from missing or stained teeth to cleft palates. Many are expressions of other, more complex disorders (1). We still do not know all the causes of the dental diseases, but their genetic basis is not a neglected factor (4). Genetic counseling, mapping, and testing can help prevent dental anomalies in the next generation of children (1).