Characterization of dental phenotypes and treatment modalities in Korean patients with Parry–Romberg syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dental phenotypes and treatment modalities (Tx-Mod) in Korean patients with Parry–Romberg syndrome (PRS) using longitudinal data. METHODS: The samples consisted of 10 PRS patients, who were treated and/or followed-up at Seoul National University Dental Hospital between 1998 and 2019. Using a novel PRS severity index based on the numbers of the atrophy-involved area and asymmetry-involved item, we classified them into mild (n = 3), moderate (n = 2), and severe (n = 5). Dental phenotypes, including congenitally missing tooth (Con-Missing-Tooth), microdontia, tooth with short root (Short-Root), tooth with dilacerated root, and delayed eruption/impacted tooth, were investigated along with Tx-Mod. RESULTS: The side of occurrence of all dental phenotypes showed 100% concordance with the side of PRS involvement. The most two common dental phenotypes were Con-Missing-Tooth and Short-Root (n = 29 and n = 17 in six patients). The sums of the average number of Con-Missing-Tooth and Short-Root increased from mild PRS to moderate PRS and severe PRS cases (1.0, 6.0, and 6.2). In terms of Tx-Mod, growth observation due to mild atrophy, fixed orthodontic treatment, and grafting were used for mild PRS cases. Tx-Mod for moderate PRS cases involved growth observation for surgery due to an early age at the initial visit. For severe PRS cases, diverse Tx-Mod combinations including unilateral functional appliance, fixed orthodontic treatment, growth observation, grafting, and orthognathic surgery were used. CONCLUSIONS: The novel PRS severity index may be useful to provide primary data for individualized diagnosis and treatment planning for PRS patients.