Abstract

Objective: Tooth agenesis is one of the most common craniofacial developmental anomalies. In hypodontia, one to five teeth are missing, whereas oligodontia refers to the absence of at least six teeth, excluding the third molars. Mutations in several genes including MSX₁, PAX₉, AXIN₂, and WNT₁₀A have been shown to cause non-syndromic tooth agenesis. Regional odontodysplasia (RO), also known as “ghost teeth,” is a rare developmental anomaly of tooth formation affecting both dentitions. Some possible causes of RO have been suggested, yet the etiology remains unknown. Because the phenotypes of both oligodontia and RO co-occur in one Finnish family, the aim here was to investigate the genetic etiology of the two conditions.

Materials and methods: A mutation screening of the genes MSX₁, PAX₉, AXIN₂, and WNT₁₀A was performed for the family members of a RO patient and family history of oligodontia.

Results: An initiation codon mutation of the PAX₉ gene was found in the proband and segregating with oligodontia in the family.

Conclusions: The etiology of regional odontodysplasia (RO) may be genetic and the same genes can be involved both in RO and tooth agenesis.

Clinical relevance: Our results give new insights into the etiology of regional odontodysplasia, yet further results are needed.