Tooth agenesis: from molecular genetics to molecular dentistry.
Tooth agenesis may originate from either genetic or environmental factors. Genetically determined hypodontic disorders appear as isolated features or as part of a syndrome. Msx1, Pax9, and Axin2 are involved in non-syndromic hypodontia, while genes such as Shh, Pitx2, Irf6, and p63 are considered to participate in syndromic genetic disorders, which include tooth agenesis. In dentistry, artificial tooth implants represent a common solution to tooth loss problems; however, molecular dentistry offers promising solutions for the future. In this paper, the genetic and molecular bases of non-syndromic and syndromic hypodontia are reviewed, and the advantages and disadvantages of tissue engineering in the clinical treatment of tooth agenesis are discussed.
Matalova
E
E
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. matalova@iach.cz
Fleischmannova
J
J
Sharpe
P T
PT
Tucker
A S
AS
D000818:Animals; D000848:Anodontia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D003813:Dentistry / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013577:Syndrome; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000639:trends*; D014083:Tooth Germ / Q000502:physiology