A new study in the Journal of Dental Research has found an association between tooth agenesis and an individual's family history of cancer (November 20, 2012).
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the epidemiological and molecular association between tooth agenesis and self-reported family history of cancer.
They recruited 82 individuals with tooth agenesis and 328 individuals with no birth defect from the same institution. Tooth agenesis was assessed in permanent teeth and was defined based on the age of the participants and when initial tooth formation should be radiographically visible.
Individuals with tooth agenesis had an increased risk of having a family history of cancer (p = 0.00006), according to the researchers, although prospective studies are needed to confirm if tooth agenesis can be used as a risk marker for cancer, they concluded.
