Diagnosis of Congenital Syphilis through Detection of Dental Abnormalities: Case Report

Characterised as a vertically transmitted infection, congenital syphilis is a major public health problem, associated with high perinatal morbidity and mortality and long-lasting systemic sequelae. Transplacental transmission of Treponema pallidum can result in a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe multisystemic alterations involving the integumentary system, bones, central nervous system, and dental structures. Among these manifestations, the dental anomalies typical of congenital syphilis stand out: mulberry molars and barrel-shaped central incisors. In this perspective, the dental surgeon plays an important role in the diagnosis of congenital syphilis, referring the patient to an infectious disease physician for the appropriate management of other systemic manifestations. The purpose of this article is to present a case of an adolescent patient with mulberry molars. The patient underwent serological tests for syphilis, confirming the diagnostic hypothesis. The etiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects were discussed, as well as the role of the dental surgeon in the early detection of oral manifestations of systemic diseases.