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Canavan disease—An expanded role for dentists
Author(s) -
Kupietzky Ari,
Guedalia Judith S.,
Tanenbaum Alexander
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
special care in dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.328
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1754-4505
pISSN - 0275-1879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1754-4505.1998.tb00916.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hypotonia , disease , genetic disorder , pediatrics , megalencephaly , pathology
Canavan disease (CD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs predominantly but not exclusively in Ashkenazi Jews. It is characterized by a normal birth, rapidly followed by signs of lack of interest, hypotonia, and megalencephaly, resulting in early death. Genetic studies suggest that among Ashkenazi Jews the carrier frequency is between 1/35 and 1/59. Dentists aware of CD can assist in the treatment of infants and children afflicted with this disorder. Early dental treatment may support parents and siblings in caring for the child with CD and help create good family dynamics.