Novel mutations in LRP6 highlight the role of WNT signaling in tooth agenesis.

Purpose: We aimed to identify a novel genetic cause of tooth agenesis (TA) and/or orofacial clefting (OFC) by combining whole-exome sequencing (WES) and targeted resequencing in a large cohort of TA and OFC patients.

Methods: WES was performed in two unrelated patients: one with severe TA and OFC and another with severe TA only. After deleterious mutations were identified in a gene encoding low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), all its exons were resequenced with molecular inversion probes in 67 patients with TA, 1,072 patients with OFC, and 706 controls.

Tooth agenesis patterns and phenotype variation in a cohort of Belgian patients with hypodontia and oligodontia clustered in 79 families with their pedigrees.

Background: Even though tooth agenesis is the most common developmental anomaly of the human dentition, its genetic background and pathogenic mechanism(s) still remain poorly understood. Syndromic and isolated forms of hypodontia have been described and can occur sporadically or in families.

Objectives: We describe and analyse the hypo-/oligodontia phenotype variations in families.

The influence of mixing methods and disinfectant on the physical properties of alginate impression materials.

The aims of this in vitro study were to quantify the effect of manual versus automatic mixing and of using a disinfectant on mechanical properties of three different alginate impression materials. Two of the three alginates tested were especially developed for orthodontic use: Orthotrace® and Orthofine® while the third was a conventional alginate CA37FS®. Alginates were mixed by hand or automatically using a Cavex alginate mixer II®.