Williams syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes medical and developmental problems, including dental abnormalities and certain facial characteristics. This syndrome is estimated to occur in one in every 20,000 births. Dental abnormalities include slightly small, widely spaced teeth, a variety of occlusion abnormalities, and abnormalities in tooth shape or appearance. Most of these conditions are amenable to orthodontic correction. Most young children with Williams syndrome have facial features that tend to be recognized only by a trained geneticist or birth defects specialist, and they include a small upturned nose, long upper lip length, wide mouth, full lips, small chin, and puffiness around the eyes. Facial features become more apparent with age. Other features of this condition include heart and blood vessel problems, hypercalcemia, low birth weight, irritability, kidney abnormalities, hernias, sensitive hearing, musculoskeletal problems, excessively social personality, and developmental delay.
(Source: Williams Syndrome Association, williams-syndrome.org. Accessed on: November 2, 2004)
