Orthodontic Treatments of Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome: Two Case Reports

Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and early onset of severe destructive periodontitis causing premature loss of both deciduous and permanent dentitions at a young age. In this article two cases of patients with Papillon-Lefevre syndrome in late mixed dentition are presented. The objective of these case reports was to illustrate that under a controlled regime of periodontal treatment, orthodontic treatment is possible in patients with Papillon-Lefevre syndrome. In both cases, the deciduous dentition was lost prematurely shortly after eruption. The permanent teeth erupt without any guidance, and this can lead to loss of space, crowding, and collapse of the dental arch. The aim of the treatment was to expand the arch, create space to allow normal eruption of the permanent teeth, and stabilize the occlusion to help the patient achieve a normal facial appearance rather than the collapsed appearance caused by early extractions. KEYWORDS: Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome, Orthodontics, Mixed dentition, Case reports