Clinical and X-ray diagnostic criteria for maxillofacial damage in children with juvenile limited scleroderma

Abstract

The objective of our study was to improve the diagnosis of maxillofacial lesions in children with juvenile scleroderma. We performed a dental examination of 41 children from 4 to 17 years old with juvenile scleroderma. Based on the clinical X-ray examination we identified the main diagnostic signs of the maxillofacial damage in children with juvenile scleroderma, including partial hemiatrophy, plaque or linear facial lesions, reduced salivation, atrophic glossitis, plaque spots of mucous tongue atrophy, ischemia or shortening of the sublingual bridle, local recession of the gums of the lower jaw, dystopia and tooth supraposition, disocclusion, delay teething, spontaneous resorption of the permanent teeth roots, one-sided delay in the development of jaw bones. Using this complex of symptoms a dentist at the first visit can pre-diagnose scleroderma, which is especially important for the selection of adequate methods of treatment and prevention.