Spina bifida and dental care: key clinical issues

Abstract

Spina bifida is a birth defect affecting the spinal column, resulting from failure of neural tube closure during the first month in utero. It is associated with varying degrees of neurologic and orthopedic impairment. This article presents an overview of spina bifida discussing its correlation with dental caries, latex allergy, pulmonary function, craniosynostosis, and morphology of sella turcica, and explains the role of the dentist in countering these problems.