PEDIATRIC DENTAL JOURNAL 20(1): 103-109, 20IO

Case Report Regional odontodysplasia: Long-term observation of a case on the mandibular left side

Futabako Iizawa, Natsuko Kinjoh and Yo Taguchi

Division of Pediatric , Department of Oral Health Science, Course for Oral Life Science, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences 2-5274 Gakkocho-¥dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8514, JAPAN

J Abstract Regional odontodysplasia is an unusual non-hereditary develop- Key words mental anomaly of tooth structures in both primary and permanent dentitions. Ghost teeth, The appropriate treatment differs for each individual's clinical findings. The Hypoplasia, purpose of this study was to describe the clinical findings and the long-term Permanent teeth, progress as to the treatment and the management of a male patient who was Primary teeth, - diagnosed with regional odontodysplasia on the left side of the mandible. Regional odontodysplasia The mandibular Ieft primary molars had shown a remarkable "ghost-like" appearance on x-ray, but they had aiready been extracted by an oral surgeon because of osteomyelitis due to pulpal infection, when the patient was referred to our pediatric dental clinic at 5 years of age. According to x-ray findings, the five permanent teeth (32, 33, 34, 35, 36) on the mandibular left side were delayed in formation. During the 15 years from age 5 to age 20, the patient was treated and managed in our clinic and the prosthodontic clinic of our hospital. Because the patjent lost his mandibular left primary teeth early but presented delayed eruption of succedaneous permanent teeth, the patient used a temporary removable space maintainer for a long time. Although the affected first molar was extracted, the second premolar erupted and the other three unerupted teeth were not removed. The gdentulous region was rehabilitated with a remoyable partial acrylic prosthesis when the patient was 19 years and 4 months. It was found that a multidisciplinary approach was essential for the long-term follow-up of rypical regional odontodysplasia.

Introduction dental malformation, non- hereditary segmentalis and familial amelodentinal Regional odontodysplasia is arare andnon-hereditary dysplasia`). Regional odontodysplasiausually affects developmental anomaly ofdental tissue derived from groups of primary and permanent contiguous teeth both the ectodermal and mesodermal layers in a of the same quadrant in one dental arch. The teeth group ofcontiguous teeth in primary and permanent in the maxilla are involved twice as often as those dentitionsi). in the mandible5), and the lesions appear to be more McCall and Wald2) first described this condition common in the anterior segment6). This condition as "arTestedtooth development"in 1947, andZegarelli occurs in females more often than in males (1.4:1), et al.3) suggested the term "odontodysplasia" in but there are no racial or familial patterns5). 1963. There have been many different terms used Clinically, regional odontodysplasia commonly to describe this condition: regional odontodysplasia, accompanies delayed, failed or partial tooth eruption ghost teeth, odontogenesis imperfecta, unilateral with or without gingival abscess. The enamel and of affected teeth are hypoplastic and hypo- Received on September 3o, 200g calcified. The surface of the affected yellowish or Accepted on January 2g, 2olo brownish discolored teeth typically exhibit irregular

103 104 Iizawa, E, Kinjoh, N. and Taguchi, Y

f

Fig. 1 Periapical x-ray at the age of 2 years and 8 months demonstrating the characteristic "ghost-like" appearance of the mandibular left primary molars and first molar.

pits and grooves. The affected teeth are usually small to a private dental clinic seelcing treatment for pain in size and can be easily fractured because their of the mandibular left primary molar region. The structure is defective7). Therefore, abscess formation periapical x-ray image revealed the appearance of in the gingiva often occurs without dental caries5-'). "ghost" molars in the region (Fig. 1). The mandibular On x-rays, the affected teeth show abnormal . Ieft first primary molar was extracted because it morphology and a hypoplastic crown. There is a lack seemed to be the tooth most likely to be causing the of contrast between the enamel and the dentin, both pain. At the age of 3 years and 2 months, the patient's ofwhichreduce theradiodensity. Because theenamel pain recurred. The mandibular left primary lateral and dentin of the affected teeth are excessively thin incisor was extracted, but the pain did not disappear and defective, their x-ray appearance, with only a (Fig. 2). The patient was referred to the Oral and faint outline ofhard tissue, has earned them the name Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic at Niigata University of "ghost teeth". The pulp chambers and root canals Medical and Dental Hospital in Japan, where he was appear to be correspondingly large, and usually diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the mandibular left present an area of relatively radiodense tissue as side. Because thepulpal infection ofthemandibular or denticles9). The roots of the affected left primary canine and second primary molar was teeth are short and incompletely formed, and apical diagnosed as the cause of osteomyelitis, these teeth closure is delayed. Unerupted teeth may be sur- were extracted during hospitalization. At the age of rounded by apericoronal radiolucency representing 5 years, the patient was referred to our Pediatric an enlarged follicle. Histological findings5¥6¥8¥'O-'2) Dental Clinic for diagnoSis and treatment of this on 'extracted teeth have been rePorted in detail. unusual condition affecting the teeth on the left side However, there have been very few report" s' i3¥i4) on of the mandible. the long-term changes and final treatment of regional odontodysplasia. Patient and familial history The aim of this study was to describe the clinical The patient's medical hiStory revealed that he had findings and the long-term progress of a patient suffered from Kawasaki's disease at the age of 4 who was diagnosed with and treated for regional years. No noteworthy abnormality was recognized odontodysplasia on the left side of the mandible, during pregnancy and delivery, and there was no beginning at a young age. Informed consent to history of local trauma or radiation therapy. The publish this article was obtained from the child and family history was riot contributory. his parents. ' Clinical course and treatment The intraoral examination showed that the patient Case Report had a full complement of maxillary primary teeth A 2-year-9-month-old Japanese boy was brought and mandibular right primary teeth without dental

i REGIOIVAL ODOAITODYSPIASIA: LONG-TERM PROGRESS 105

Fig. 2 Panoramic x-ray at the age of3 years and 2 months showing the ghost-like appearance of the teeth in the mandibular left quadrant. The mandibular left second primary molar and first molar had the typical appearance of odontodysplasia, whereas all teeth in other quadrants were normal. The formation of the mandibular left permanent canine, premolars and first molar were delayed in comparison with teeth on the mandibular right side.

Fig. 3 Panoramic x-ray at the age of 5 years and 10 months showing calcification ofthe affected mandibular left permanent teeth. The tooth germs of mandibular left premolars were small and hypoplastic, with an indistinct crown. Although the crown formation of the mandibular left first molar was almost finished, the tooth was surrounded by a pericoronal radiolucency representing an enlarged follicle, and the demarcation between enamel and dentine was poorly defined.

caries. The successors of the extracted primary teeth small and hypoplastic. in the mandibular left side had not erupted. X-rays According to the clinical and x-ray findings, a revealed delayed formation and mineralization in diagnosis of regional odontodysplasia was made. themandibularleftpermanentlateralincisor, canine, The affected edentulous region was temporarily first premolar, second premolar and first molar rehabilitated with a removable space maintainer to (Fig. 3). The morphology of these teeth was bjzarre, provide chewing function. The patient was,placed on 106 Iizawa, E, Kinjoh, Ar. and Taguchi, M'

Fig. 4 Panoramic x-ray at the age of 8 years and 6 months. A ghost-like appearance is evident jn the lower left permanent lateral incisor, canine, premolars and first molar. The root formation of the mandibular left first permanent molar has started.

Fig. 5 Panoramic x-ray at the age of 13 years and 1 month showing unerupted hypdplastic mandibular Ieft permanent lateral incisor, canine, premolars and first molar. The tooth axis of the impacted mandibular left first molar inclines distally, 'and the enlarged fo11icle is shown to contact the mesial root of the second molar. The tooth axis of the mandibular left first premolar also inclines distally.

periodic follow-up so that the progress ofpermarient showed the characteristic ghost-like ap.pearance of tooth formation of the mandibular left quadrant could regional odontodysplasia. be observed and the removable space maintainer Thepatientcomplainedofpaininthemandibular could be checked. The temporary space maintainer Ieft molar region at the age of 13 years and 1 wasreformedregularlyuntilapermanentprosthesis month. The cause of the pain was an infection was made. of the unerupted mandibular left permanent first At the age of8 years and6 months, apanoramic molar from mesial gingival pockets of the second x-ray showed marked hypoplasia of the mandibular molar. X-rays revealed a radiolucent area around left permanent lateral incisor, canine, first premolar, the unerupted hypoplastic permanent first molar second premolar, and first molar (Fig. 4). These teeth (Fig. 5). The affected molar had a malformed crown REGI02VAL ODONTODYSPL,tlSIA: LONG-TERM PROGRESS 107

Fig. 6 Panoramic x-ray at the age of 15 years 6 months showing impaction of the lower left permanent lateral incisor, canine and first premolar. The dental follicles surrounding the unepapted lateral incisor, canine and first premolar were somewhat enlarged. The erupted mandibular left second premolar show.edamalformed and hypocalcified crown and short root. .

and root with hypoplastic enamel and dentin, and a pediatric dentistry closer to his home. We considered distally inclined axis, while the root formation ofthe that it was essential for the patient to continue the mandibular left lateral incisor, canine, first premolar, clinical and x-ray follow-up with a specialist because and second premolar were progressing. The state of the retained teeth might cause some complications. formation in the mandibular left second molar was It was agreed that the specialist would contact us normal. We determined that it would be difficult to in the case of difficult problems occurring with keep theuneruptedfirstmolarandsurgicallyremoved the impacted teeth, and that we would consult the it. A new temporary removable space maintainer was dentists in our hospital including the dentist of the constructed after the removaL Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery CIinic. At the age of 15 years 6 months, the patient's mandibular left second premolar erupted, and itS rOOt Discussion formation was almost completed (Fig. 6), but the tooth showed a malformed, smal1 andundercalcified The etiology of regional odontodysplasia remains crown with a short root, The mandjbular left lateral uncertain. It has been suggested that this condition incisor, canine, and first premolar did not erupt may derive from a disorderly proliferation of the and their dental follicles appeared to be somewhat dental epithelium at an early stage of development, enlarged. The impacted mandibular left permanent during the formation of dental structures. Many lateral incisor, canine and first premolars were etiologic factors have been suggested, such as local retained for preservation of the alveolar ridge. We circulatory disordersi5-i8), viral infection of the tooth continued with periodic examinations, but there was germ during developmenti6¥i7¥i9¥20), pharmacotherapy no sign ofinfection or abnormal clinical findings of during pregnancy6), local trauma3¥'5¥2i), metabolic the impacted teeth and the erupted second premolar. disturbances, local somatic mutation affecting the We reformed the removable spacemaintainer when dental lamina in the areaii), and failure of the necessary and the patient continued to use it. migration of the neural crest cells22). Although many The edentulous region was rehabilitated with a theories have been advanced by various authors, it removable partial acryljc prosthesis in the Prostho- was not possible to detemiine the precise etiological dontic Clinic of our hospital when the patient was factors in our case. Regional odontodysplasia com- 19 years and 4 months. After the patient reached 20 monly presents as either failed, delayed or partial years of age and became too busy to visit our hos- eruption with or without abscess formation not caused pital periodically, he was referred to a specialist in by dental caries23-25). Since the present ca,se showed 108 Iizawa, E, Kinjoh, N. and Taguchi, M the characteristic clinical and x-ray photographic unerupted mandibular left lateral incisor and canine features of regional odontodysplasia and had no were short and the first premolar was impacted in dental caries, we could diagnose it at early age. the deep part of the mandible. The final rehabilitating The care and treatment of children with regional treatment was accomplished without removing any odontodysplasiarequire amultidisciplinary approach. of the impacted teeth when the patient was 19 years The treatment of regional odontodysplasia remains old. To date, the impacted teeth have not caused any somewhat controversia126-30), and no consensus has symptoms. We may choose, in the future, other types yet been reached on what the standard treatment of prosthetic treatment such as bridgeworks and should be. Some clinicians advocate the removal implants, depending on the patient's demand5¥27¥29). of the affected teeth as soon as possible, while The goals of treatment for regional odontodys- others recommend preserving the affected teeth for plasia include aiding mastication and the eruption as long as possible6¥25). Treatment should be based of teeth, increasing function, improving aesthetics, on a consideration of the age of the patient, his or minimizingpsychologicaleffects,protectingerupted her medical histQry, previous dental experience, the affected teeth and allowing for future prosthetic number of affected teeth, and the attitude and wishes treatment. For teeth affected by regional odontodys- of the child and parents alike. In our opinion, for plasia, the chosen treatment method for each case young children, the infected primary teeth should should be performed on the proper time according be extracted, but as many of the affected teeth as to needs during long-term observation. In addition, possible should be preserved to maintain normaljaw it is important to provide continuous dental supervi- development6¥27). In the present case, the patient was sion and case management. managed conservatively except in the case of the i"fe 8the,dtfi,r,StthiZ9tl,a,'ka,"ddbPy",llglajl3.I5?eghd'..t.dy,pl,,i, References areoftenimpacted,buttherehavebeenfewreportsi3¥i4) 1) Thoma, K.H., Gorlin, R.J. and Goldman, H.M.: R•l:S,h8,,hO?,i-,Xe.r,M.,C,h,a,",ge,2,?,"d..fi,"r,',5r9.ai•i?fZ"gl.O.f ,,i,lie,Åí,oM.•?g'p,SJ9/4r.Zis.?aag.A:ime'.8.tP,eS,hi.?SBIh,//:tl.L8.":ii of the tooth germ, some sequelae of retained genology.3rded.w.B.Saunders,Philadelphia,1947, epithelial tissue such as formation of follicular p.16g. cysts or odontogenic tumors, and/or pain induced 3) Zegarelli,E.,Kutscher,A.andApplebaum,E.: Odon- by nervous pressure on the mandibular cana130-33). todysplasia. 0ral Surg Oral Med 0ral Pathol 16: Io:•i,aPa,l8,ne,gl,Sg'xtSi.lelf:rlo:illhll,8i,S,gX,8,g:dilsoM.ga:d:u:,ge:M:g;g?%t`'Sk7g.-X,i/118yÅr'sE'Xa/,s3?tViiOac,aCx.e,I•llg/.,osBc2es'ts.gYst.h,atyR,li,'2•:ri:

avoid future therapeutic complexity. At the age of Oral Med Oral Pathol 72: 492-496, 1991. 13 years, in the pr,esent case, the mandibular left 5) Crawford, P.J. and Aldred, M.J.: Regional odonto- 2¥trSdi,aMn2!aTen,g,ir.rm-.ai\aot,gehX,gE,:?i?,J.bteCa,:¥:siuegOgfeg,:2f/hCjtX,Za2¥6)i.Y'te,11b/i,'saGerJRi/.','g.S.:agPeY,..ldOu,:¥au,1-iZ,lsZkl,(ll:CMY.l8?idi,inl-

check-ups could prevent systemic disorders such aS literature. J 0ral Surg 39: 781-793, 1975. osteomyelitis. 7) Ferguson, F.S., Creath, C.J. and Buono, B.: Infraor- The temporary removable prostheses should be bital infection relatedto odontodysplasia: casereport. idXir?X,It:¥gCi,e,Seii,:,:,a8if8,g.Ykg9,gt:aiaSr2o.w"a,:.:¥RP,t8ge,,st,8,Iext:¥8'g/:a:k\¥h'haE,pe,:'ii,lii2.tx3,,,9.INi.9iOgs.i¥ge,Ogifg,Si,,S,.5$eg,gB".z'

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