Bloch-Zupan ASedano HOScully C

Dento/oro/craniofacial anomalies and genetics

Published by: Elsevier ISBN-10: 0124160387; ISBN-13: 978-0124160385, £45.99/$74.95

This book by Professor Bloch-Zupan and co-workers, Professors Sedano and Scully, is clear and easy to read. The objectives are to present the background of genetic dental and orofacial anomalies from their clinical to biological (genetic) perspectives. This volume is edited by Elsevier in the Elsevier Insights Series. It reviews and synthesizes the known data on these rare syndromes associated with tooth anomalies. This is interesting as there are very few specific books on this topic.

The first chapter is a short contribution to odontogenesis (tooth development) and to pathways involved in dental development, including signal transduction and transcription factors. The other seven chapters are dedicated to the description of genetic syndromes associated with tooth anomalies, classified by the dental phenotype (missing teeth (ie, hypodontia and oligodontia), supernumerary teeth, abnormalities of tooth shape and size, anomalies in structure of teeth (two contributions: dentine and enamel), anomalies of teeth eruption and/or resorption, pathology and dental anomalies). There are a total of 68 described syndromes in the seven chapters of this book. Every syndrome is approached to the same projection: definition, synonyms, OMIM number, prevalence, inheritance, etiology/molecular basis/gene, animal models/main features, clinical description (main features, cranio-oro-dental features), management/oral health, references, pictures illustrating the oro-dental features.

The authors have compiled a lot of data regarding teeth anomalies in genetic syndromes. The book adds a lot of details. One can notice that every animal (mouse) model is noted. The volume is well illustrated with oral (dental) clinical pictures and/or teeth panoramic radiographs, showing specific dental anomalies in each disease. There is also a huge bibliography added (1242 references).

In conclusion, this book is interesting and will be useful for clinical geneticists, for dentists, and for other medical specialists (facial surgeons…). It will help to recognize specific genetic syndromes for dentists, and to recognize specific dental features for clinical geneticists. This volume, available in hardback and in electronic format, is recommended to those interested in the oral cavity and in the craniofacial development.