The Paradox of the Empty Smile

Imagine looking at a child's mouth and seeing a completely empty smile—no adult teeth in sight. To the naked eye, it looks like a severe case of missing teeth (anodontia). The teeth aren’t missing at all. They are trapped.

This is the central dental dilemma of Cleidocranial Dysplasia (CCD)—a rare genetic condition caused by a mutation in the RUNX2 gene. While CCD is famous for letting individuals fold their shoulders together because they are born without collarbones, its most profound psychological and physical battleground is hidden inside the jaw. CH33

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