PRENATAL ANTICONVULSANT DRUG EXPOSURE - TERATOGENIC EFFECT ON THE DENTITION

Prenatal exposure to anticonvulsant medication has been shown to cause craniofacial dysmorphology, prenatal growth retardation, hypoplastic nails and phalanges, and visceral abnormalities. In this study we exam ined maxillary and mandibular stone dental casts (45) and panoramic ra diographs (39) from 45 individuals with ages 4.5 to 22.0 years for cha nges in mesiodistal crown size of deciduous and permanent teeth, and t he presence of dental anomalies. These individuals had been exposed pr enatally to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Mesiodistal crown diameters we re measured from the dental casts and converted into standard scores ( Z), using published normative data from the University of Michigan Lon gitudinal Craniofacial Growth Series. A significant increase in mesiod istal crown dimensions of the posterior maxillary teeth was observed, specifically in primary molars and their permanent premolar successors , as well as permanent molars. Changes in tooth size were more common in females than in males. Dental maturity, assessed using the panorami c radiographs, was equal to chronologic age. An increased frequency of hypodontia was the only notable dental anomaly.