Life along SDS Highway 101 often has stops at the dentist. We get off at that exit tomorrow! Children with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome often have dental abnormalities. Enamel defects are very common. Because SDS children have neutropenia and neutrophil chemotaxis defects, gingivitis, mouth ulcers and oral infections are also another common finding. I have several neutropenia and SDS dental articles that I have found to be very interesting. My boys' x-rays are published in one SDS dental article because of a rare finding they have.
They have both had internal tooth resorption on molars that were in perfect condition. No cavities, no defects or anything. They lost these molars 4-5 years early because they were literally eaten from the inside out. When we contacted centers that treated SDS patients around the world, we were told that they were the only two SDS patients they knew of who had internal tooth resoption. This prompted the doctors to publish their x-rays in an article.
Internal tooth resorption is not the same as root resorption that occurs when a child loses a baby tooth. The adult tooth pushes through, causing the roots of the baby tooth to be reabsorbed--this is completely normal.
Tomorrow, I bring all three of my boys to the dentist. I'm hoping that the appointments go well and we don't find anything odd. Just another day along SDS Highway 101.
