THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIRTH WEIGHT AND HYPODONTIA IN TWINS,
Abstract
The relationship between birth weight and congenitally missing teeth (hypodontia) was investigated in 262 twins from the naval recruit population. Hypodontia occurred more frequently in twins than in the general population. The frequency of 'prematurity' in the twin sample was 47.7 per cent (birth weight 5.5 pounds or less). Hypodontia frequency was higher in 'premature' twins than in twins with birth weight over 5.5 pound. Mean birth weight was lower and hypodontia frequency was higher in monozygotic ('identical') twins than in dizygotic ('fraternal') twins. Discordances in anatomic location and number of congenitally missing teeth occurred in several twin pairs. Mean intrapair variance in number of congenitally missing teeth was almost 10 times greater in dizygotic twins than in monozygotic pairs, indicating the presence of a strong genetic component in connection with tooth number variability in twins. The increased frequency of hypodontia in twins and the low birth weight-hypodontia relationship suggest that prenatal environmental factors may also be of importance in the etiology of hypodontia. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 12, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0688764
Entities
People
- Harris J. Keene