Changes of orofacial structures and idiopathic scoliosis

This study presents research into the common link between the appearance of idiopathic scoliosis of the spine and anomalies of the orofacial skeleton. To this end research was carried out involving 202 subjects aged between 7 and 17 years, with idiopathic scoliosis of 20 to 60 degrees measured according to Cobb. There were 640 subjects in the control group with no signs of spinal deformation or bad posture. In the clinically indicated cases, apart from clinical examinations, radiological tests were also performed. In the subjects with idiopathic scoliosis a pathological oral finding was discovered in 78.7 % and in the control group in 45% of cases. Acquired anomalies of the orofacial skeleton were found equally in both groups of subjects, but congenital anomalies (77%) were statistically significantly more frequent in children with idiopathic scoliosis, than in children without scoliosis (25%). Therefore it is clear that there is a common genetic predisposition for the appearance of anomalies of the orofacial skeleton and idiopathic scoliosis. The results of our research point to the need to pay particular attention to each child with a discovered congenital anomaly of the orofacial skeleton to help in the early discovery of possible deformations of the spine. In the same way, in children where deformations of the spine have already been discovered in the form of scoliosis, observation by a paedodontist and an orthodontist are also necessary.