FAMILY HISTORY

Serious medical problems in immediate family members (including parents, siblings, spouse, and children) should be listed. Disorders known to have a genetic or environmental basis (such as certain forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, allergies, asthma, renal disease, stomach ulcers, diabetes mellitus, bleeding disorders, and sickle cell anemia) should be addressed. Also noted are whether parents, siblings, or offspring are alive or dead; if dead, the age at death and cause of death are recorded. This type of information will alert the clinician to the patient’s predisposition to develop serious medical conditions.

There are also several inherited anomalies and abnormalities that can affect the oral cavity.

Many, such as congenitally missing lateral incisors, amelogenesis imperfecta, ectodermal dysplasia and cleft lip and/or palate, may have a direct impact on the type of dentistry indicated.