Rickets - A case report

Abstract

Rickets is a disorder caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium or phosphate. It leads to softening and weakening of the bones. Dental manifestation of rickets includes enamel hypoplasia and delayed tooth eruption. The most important oral findings are characterised by spontaneous gingival and dental abscesses occurring without a history of trauma or caries. Radiographic examination revealed large pulp chambers, short roots, poorly defined lamina dura and hypoplastic alveolar ridge. These dental abscesses are common, and therefore, extraction and pulpectomy are the treatment of choice. Oral manifestations of rickets should be diagnosed early by both physicians and dentists to prevent severe dental complications. This article aims to report a case of rickets in a 3-year-old girl, describing the dental findings and the treatment to be performed in these cases.

Keywords: Hypophosphatemia; oral manifestations; rickets; vitamin D.

Figure 1

Swelling on lower left back cheek region

Figure 2

Multiple Carious Teeth

Figure 3

Bowed legs or knock knees, thickened wrists and ankles

Figure 4

(a) Frayed metaphyseal margin and only two carpel bones with no development of epiphysial end of ulna. (b) Enlargement and cupping of anterior ends of ribs, frayed margins. (c) The classical metaphyseal changes noted in proximal humeri giving rise to rickety rosary