5^th American Dental Congress

Biography

Biography: Fouad Alomari

Abstract

Introduction: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of hereditary diseases affecting 1 in 17,000 live births worldwide. It consists skin and mucous membrane blistering in response to minimal trauma. The genes that cause EB are also involved in development and maintenance of a variety of oral tissues. The specific oral manifestations and their severity are defined by the expression of genes that are important in cell adhesion and integrity. Proteins such as Kindlin-1 are important in maintaining mucosal integrity but appear not to affect tooth formation. Diagnosis of EB is based on clinical findings, Immunoflourescence and Electron microscopy. Out of the three major types of EB, Dystrophic EB is caused by the defect in the anchoring fibril protein that is located below the basal lamina at the dermal-epidermal basement membrane zone. Although specific therapies are not yet available for the prevention of blisters in any of the EB types, these diseases can certainly be controlled. Objective: If treatment is instituted at an early age, it can retain a functional dentition through the use of a combination of aesthetic, restorative, and preventive measures. Proper maintenance of oral structures not only reduces the possibility of oral soft tissue trauma but may also provide proper nutritional support and alleviate systemic complications due to nutritional deficiencies. Conclusion: Possible treatment modalities for EB will be discussed in order to educate the dental fraternity regarding clinical manifestations and their individualized treatment options. We present a case of dystrophic EB with oral manifestations and its management.