Kim, Ji-Hee;Choi, Byung-Jai;Choi, Hyung-Jun;Song, Je-Seon;Lee, Jee-Ho
12
Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with a frequency of one per 20,000~50,000 live births. It is caused by a deletion of one elastin allele located within chromosome subunit 7q11.23(long arm). This syndrome is frequently accompanied by disorders such as congenital heart disease, facial anomalies, mental retardation, and so on. The characteristic facial appearance includes full lips, rounded cheeks, broad forehead, periorbital fullness, flattened bridge of nose, small nose with anteverted nostril, long filtrum and low-set ears. In oral features, hypodontia, high prevalence of dental caries, microdontia, enamel hypoplasia, delayed eruption, and malocclusions have been found. Most adult patients with Williams syndrome lack social adaptability and lead seclusive lives, however, young patients are rather very friendly and talkative, and seem smarter than their actual intellectual quotients. They also tend to favor staying with grown-ups rather than mixing with their peers, and tend to present problematic temper tantrum during dental treatment.