Craniofacial Disorders Affecting the Dentition: Genetic

Changes in the dentition and its supporting oral structures may occur in response to disorders of mineral metabolism. This chapter provides a concise overview of the dental manifestations of selected disorders of bone and mineral metabolism, including genetic disorders affecting the number of teeth, dentin, and enamel. The initiation of tooth development depends on interactions between oral epithelium and mesenchyme derived from cranial neural crest cells. Cleft lip and/or palate are relatively common craniofacial malformations that can have profound impact on nutritional, speech, dental, and psychological development. Metabolic diseases of bone are disorders of bone remodeling that characteristically involve the entire skeleton and are often manifest in the oral cavity, which can lead to the diagnosis of the underlying systemic disease.