Influence of genetic and behavioral variables on the occurrence of oral health problems and applications in forensic dentistry.

• Grant number: 25/04263-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Social and Preventive Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Edgard Michel Crosato
• Grantee: Mariana Paes Muro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/02107-6 - The University of São Paulo twin panel: research on twins' behavior, health, and well-being, AP.TEM

Abstract

A population of twins can be an excellent alternative to investigate the contribution of genetic and environmental factors in the development of individuals' physical characteristics, as well as in the etiology of oral diseases, as well as to verify anthropometric patterns for use in forensic sciences. The objective of the research is to verify the influence of genetic and behavioral variables in the occurrence of oral health problems. Pairs of twins will participate in the study and the main oral outcome variables will be: dental caries, dental trauma, malocclusion, bruxism and enamel development defects (EDD), fluorosis and molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Changes in relation to malocclusion and morphology of teeth and dental arches will also be evaluated longitudinally. Mathematical models will be performed to verify a possible association between the studied variables and the possibility of forensic identification of the twins studied. Introduction: According to the national oral health survey of the Ministry of Health, 54% of children have caries lesions in deciduous teeth. The WHO goal was for 50% of 5-year-old children to be free of caries by 2000, which was not achieved in any of the Brazilian regions, and that by 2010 this indicator had increased to 90% (Hobdell et al., 2000). Among the consequences of the development of caries lesions are infection, pain, difficulty chewing and loss of self-esteem (Losso et al., 2009). The investigation of genetic and environmental influence on oral health can help in the prediction and prevention of oral conditions and also in the therapeutic approach. However, to date, few studies have investigated the influence of zygosity and fetal parameters on outcomes related to oral health (Rintakoski et al., 2010; Teixeira et al, 2018). Dental morphology can be an important identification tool and verifying the difference in this morphometry in twins can provide important information for the forensic identification process. Another important factor to be studied is the difference in palatal rugosities in twins.