Oral characteristics in adult individuals with periodontal Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Aim

Periodontal Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (pEDS) is a monogenic type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome characterized by periodontal destruction at a young age. The present study aimed to document the oral phenotype of pEDS based on prospective clinical investigations.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-five adult individuals from 13 families with a clinically and genetically confirmed diagnosis of pEDS underwent a systematic oral assessment.

Results

Periodontitis stage 3 or 4 or edentulism due to periodontal destruction were diagnosed in 94% of the individuals. First permanent tooth loss was reported at the age of 21.5 years (median; range 13–43 years). Deep periodontal pockets were infrequent, with 94% measuring <4 mm. However, there was increased clinical attachment loss (CAL) averaging 8 mm (range 4–13 mm), and the probability of being edentate between the age of 35 and 44 years was 28–47% compared with less than 0.25% of the general population. Radiographic anomalous findings were only found in a portion of subjects and consisted of fused roots of maxillary second molars (81%), root hypoplasia (57%), taurodontism (26%) and tooth rotation of premolars (67%). As such, radiographic findings are not considered common characteristics of pEDS.

Conclusions

Characteristic oral traits of pEDS in adults are severe CAL with shallow probing depths and marked gingival recession. This is complemented by a lack of attached gingiva. These indications need to be paralleled by genetic analyses to diagnose pEDS unambiguously.