Skeletal indicators of pathology in the context of early tooth loss in children: A systematic literature review.

Objective: To provide an evidence-based resource for paleopathologists to consider multiple skeletal indicators of pathology associated with early tooth loss in children to aid in diagnosis.
Materials: Three databases (Cochrane Library, MedLine, and Scopus) were used for a review.
Methods: According to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) criteria, a systematic review guideline, 85 articles were selected.
Results: A total of 189 children had a syndrome or disease associated with early tooth loss. Our review, based on 25 diseases, lists the bone and dental lesions observable in archeological remains.
Conclusions: Based on a review of the literature, a synthesis of 25 diseases and syndromes that may be associated with premature loss of permanent or deciduous teeth in children was developed for paleopathologists. It highlights the importance of a thorough dental examination by paleopathologists to further assess past health conditions.
Significance: This paper provides an extensive resource addressing early tooth loss in childhood to assist researchers with differential diagnosis.
Limitations: The articles included in this review are case reports based on living populations.
Suggestions for Further Research: Further studies into diseases and their association with early tooth loss would complement this work, as would utilizing the differential diagnoses on archeological individuals to clarify its value and limitations.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)