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Case Reports
. 2018 Jun 11:2018:bcr2017223942.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-223942.

Dentin dysplasia: diagnostic challenges

Ahmed Alhilou  1 , Hannah P Beddis  1 , Alan J Mighell  2 , Kathryn Durey  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Dentin dysplasia: diagnostic challenges

Ahmed Alhilou et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Dentin dysplasia(DD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder associated with disturbance of the dentin. While the crowns appear clinically normal, on radiography, the pulp spaces appear partially or completely obliterated, with short blunted roots, and multiple periapical radiolucencies affecting the apparently sound teeth. Clinical signs include spontaneous abscess formation or increased tooth mobility which can lead to exfoliation. DD can therefore have a significant impact on the patient's dentition, and treatment is often challenging. Shields' classification of dentin disorders has been recently criticised for failing to consider differential variations and expressions of these disorders. This paper describes a case of a 23-year-old woman with previously undiagnosed DD, who presented with clinical and histological features belonging to several of these diseases, thus highlighting the potential diagnostic challenges faced with Shields' classification.

Keywords: dentistry and oral medicine; genetics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Extra/intraoral views of the patient’s dentition.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Orthopantogram revealing the presence of bulbous crowns with multiple periapical radiolucencies associated with a number of teeth.
Figure 3
Figure 3
An axial view showing the presence of a periapical radiolucency associated with palatal root of the upper left third molar tooth.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Histological images of the extracted upper left third molar displaying an abnormal and irregular dentin structure with a significant reduction in dentin tubules.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Histological images of a control tooth displaying normal dentin structure with patent dentin tubules.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The pulp cavity appears partially obliterated and necrotic focally, with the presence of pulp stones.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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