Region Odontodysplasia (Ghost Teeth)
Hello folks
I am finally free to blog again though I still have lots of things to do till February,2009. I did a blogpost about my professional training on my education blog. So today I’ll talk about Ghost Teeth.
Regional Odontodysplasia is an uncommon but unique non-hereditary developmental disturbance of teeth characterized by defective formation of enamel and dentln in addition to abnormal pulp and follicle calcifications.
The etiology of Regional Odontodysplasia is not fully understood but it is suggested that the disease develops due to some local ischemic change in the tissue during odontogenesis.
Both permanent and deciduous definitions are affected in this disease although it is more common in permanent dentition. But it is true there is no sex predilection in case of Regional Odontodysplasia. Also in this case the maxilla is affected more than mandible. The disease is called regional because it affects several contiguous teeth in a single quadrant. It also frequently occurs unilaterally, often affecting certain parts of the maxilla. The central and lateral incisors and the cuspids in the maxillary are also affected. The affected teeth show either delayed eruption or a complete failure of eruption. These teeth are often deformed, have a soft leathery surface and are yellowish brown in color.
The teeth having Regional Odontodysplasia have often been described as “ghost teeth”, since there is marked decrease in the rado density of these teeth as a result of defective mineralization.
The enamel teeth and dentin are very thin and radiographic distinction between these two structures is almost impossible. This accounts for the subdued or “ghostly” appearance of involved teeth. The pulp chambers of teeth are also extremely large and open and often contain pulp stones.
In case of Regional Odontodysplasia, the enamel layer is attenuated and disrupted. Dentin is very thin and globular and exhibits irregular tubules and a wide pre-dentin layer. Large pulp chamber exhibits numerous pulpal calcifications. The reduced epithelium persists and the follicular connective tissue contains numerous clusters of tiny droplet Calcifications.
Extraction of the affected teeth and fabrication of a suitable prosthesis is usually recommended in case of Regional Odontoldysplasia.
Tags: dental, Odontoldysplasia, teeth