Craniofacial morphology and dental age in children with Silver-Russell syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation is a part of a multidisciplinary descriptive evaluation of the Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS). The aim of this study was to describe the craniofacial morphology, occlusion and dental age in children with the SRS.


METHODS
A descriptive literature-controlled study.


METHODS
Sixteen children diagnosed as having SRS, 10 boys and six girls, aged 4.4-14.5 years, were referred from different parts of Sweden to the Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Göteborg University.


METHODS
Facial morphology was measured on lateral and postero-anterior radiographs. Occlusion, tooth eruption and palatal height were measured on casts, and dental maturity was evaluated on orthopantomograms.


METHODS
Linear and angular measurements were obtained from lateral radiographs and the ratios of the linear measurements from the postero-anterior radiographs. The degree of tooth calcification shown on orthopantomograms was taken as a measure of dental maturity. Biometric measurements were taken and the degree of tooth eruption was recorded from the dental casts. The SRS children were compared with reference groups with t-test and z-scores.


RESULTS
Overall, SRS children were found to have smaller linear facial dimensions and deviations in the facial proportions, such as a small retropositioned, and steeply inclined maxilla and mandible, and a proportionally larger anterior facial height in relation to the posterior facial height. In 40% of them a smaller facial height or length on one side (facial asymmetry) was correlated to the smaller side of the body. The frequency of malocclusions was higher, and the palatal height showed a tendency towards an increase. Dental maturity was within normal limits, while the time of tooth eruption was slightly delayed.


CONCLUSIONS
The deviating facial morphology described above is a part of the syndrome, which is characterized by short stature, growth hormone deficiency and asymmetries of the body. The higher percentage of malocclusions in the SRS children might lead to a greater need of orthodontic treatment.
Bergman
A
A
Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Odontology, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden.
Kjellberg
H
H
Dahlgren
J
J
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000473:pathology; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013577:Syndrome; D014078:Tooth Eruption; D014716:Vertical Dimension