Peripheral complex odontoma in a pediatric dental patient: a case report.

Odontomas are the most commonly occurring benign odontogenic tumors of the jaws. Although a majority of odontomas are intraosseous, there are case reports of odontomas that erupted into the oral cavity. Even less common are peripheral or soft-tissue odontomas, only a few of which have been reported to date. We report a peripheral odontoma that arose in the alveolar mucosa of the posterior maxilla in a young child. The diagnosis, complications, treatment, and prognosis of this entity will be discussed.

Taurodontism and learning disabilities in patients with Klinefelter syndrome.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive clinical study was to determine the prevalence rates of taurodontism and learning disabilities in a sample of patients with Klinefelter syndrome. METHODS: Questionnaires and dental radiographs of Klinefelter syndrome patients were obtained and analyzed using previously published methods. Prevalence rates were determined for taurodontism and learning disabilities in the sample population and compared to the general population. Statistical analyses included a Fisher's exact 2-sided test to compare the prevalence rates to that found in the general population and subsequent determination of the positive predictive value. RESULTS: Taurodontism was found in 75% of the 24 participants. Eighty-three percent of the participants reported having a learning disability. These rates are significantly higher than the general population, as reported in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: The positive predictive value for Klinefelter syndrome, given a male patient with taurodontism and a learning disability, is 84%. In this case, the dentist should recommend karyotyping to the patient, parent, or physician. This demonstrates how important it is for dentists to understand and assist physicians in the diagnosis of genetic disorders.

Acute onset of facial nerve palsy associated with Lyme disease in a 6 year-old child.

Pediatric facial nerve palsy (FNP) can result from a variety of etiologies including Lyme disease, varicella, primary gingivostomatitis, herpes zoster oticus (Ramsay Hunt syndrome), coxsackievirus, trauma, otitis media, HIV, diseases causing tumors or demyelinations, compressions, and possibly Epstein Barr virus. Lyme disease has been implicated as the cause of over 50% of the FNPs in children. The paralysis of the facial nerve disturbs motor function to the muscles of facial expression and results in a flaccid appearance of the face (unilateral or bilateral). This case report derails undiagnosed Lyme disease presenting as a facial palsy in a 6 year, 5 month-old white female. The palsy was recognized and consultation with the child's physician prompted definitive diagnosis and treatment. A review of the literature and the implications of facial nerve palsy are discussed.