Taurodontism in 45,X females

Taurodontism—Prevalence, Extent, and Clinical Challenge in Ashkelon, Israel—A Retrospective Study

Taurodontism, a known morpho-anatomic variation in the shape of teeth, has already attracted substantial attention. The aim of this study is to contribute to this by discussing its direct impact on the dental practitioner via an evaluation of the prevalence of taurodontism in molars in Ashkelon, Israel. This retrospective study analyzed panoramic radiographs of 624 patients (330 males, 294 females), aged of 9–29 years—2849; first and second permanent molars were screened. Objective measurements and variables were used and analyzed using statistical SPSS version 27 (IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). Taurodontism was observed in 33.6% of the patients and was more prevalent among females (53% vs. 47%) and in maxillary molars compared to mandibular molars (57% vs. 43%). The overall prevalence of hypotaurodontism, mesotaurodontism, and hypertaurodontism was 10.8%, 0.5%, and 0.2%, respectively. No statistical difference between right and left sides was discovered, however, taurodont teeth in the upper left side exhibited the highest frequency, while the lower left side had the least. The highest occurrence of hypotaurodontism was on the upper right second molar followed by upper left first and second molars. The clinical challenge posed in endodontic, orthodontic, and restorative dentistry is discussed, and suitable alternative approaches are proposed for dental practitioners.

Caries intensity and Streptococcus mutans in the saliva of patients with Turner syndrome

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the caries intensity and Streptococcus mutans (SM) counts in patients with Turner syndrome.

Materials and methods

Nineteen patients aged 20-40 years were clinically and cytogenetically diagnosed with Turner syndrome (45, X). The karyotype was determined by chromosome analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The control group comprised 47 healthy women aged 21-40 years. Both groups included non-smokers with no specific diet, such as a vegetarian or vegan diet, who were generally healthy with good oral hygiene and periodontal condition. Patients treated with antibiotics or steroid preparations in the past 6 months or with diseases or conditions that might affect the oral mucosal environment, such as disorders of salivary secretion and diabetes, were excluded from the study. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) scores and SM counts in saliva were determined.

Results

No colony growth of SM was noticed in 53% of patients with Turner syndrome and 4.2% of controls (p < 0.001). Colony counts of SM ≥ 10⁵ in saliva were observed in none of the patients with Turner syndrome but in 66% of controls (p < 0.001). The mean DMFT score was 1.63 ± 2.52 in patients with Turner syndrome and 14.49 ± 6.88 in controls. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with genetic disorders may have different severities of caries and SM counts in saliva compared to those without genetic disorders. Further studies on saliva properties and genes located on the X chromosome could contribute to determining the effect of the X chromosome on the pathological processes in the oral cavity.

The frequency of the second mesiobuccal canal in maxillary first molars among a sample of the Kurdistan Region-Iraq population - A retrospective cone-beam computed tomography evaluation

Background/purpose

One of the most complexes in root and canal anatomy is the maxillary first permanent molar. This study aimed to analyze the frequency of mesiobuccal (MB2) canal and its apical portals of exit, in patients belonging to different gender-age groups and determine the possible relation with sex and age.

Materials and methods

A CBCT scan images were accessed from a documented database of 343 patients (178 male, 165 female), who had an oral and maxillofacial examination. The age of the patients ranging from 12 to 63 years. The frequency of the MB2 canal and its portals of exit apically were observed. Age and gender correlation were calculated using the χ2 test. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 634 maxillary first molars (335 male, 299 female) were included. The MB2 canal was found in 53.78% of the cases. A significantly higher incidence of the MB2 canal was detected in males than in females. No correlation in the presence and/or absence of the MB2 canal in terms of age. When MB2 canal present, a single apical foramen was observed in 66.28% of the cases, two apical foramina were present in 33.72% of the cases.

Conclusion

MB2 canals may be present in approximately half of the cases, from which one third of the cases have their own apical portal of exit.

Prevalence of Taurodont Molars in a Selected Iranian Adult Population

Introduction:

Taurodontism is an anomaly characterized by elongated crowns and consumedly apical location of the bifurcation area. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of taurodontism in molars based on digital panoramic radiographies in eight cities of Iran.

Methods and Materials:

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 2360 digital panoramic radiographs taken for different treatment purposes. Demographic information of patients was recorded and radiographs were evaluated for presence of taurodont molars. The prevalence rates were calculated and the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18 via paired t-test, chi square test and ANOVA.

Results:

A total of 2360 panoramic radiographs (from 51.4% male and 48.6% female patients) were evaluated and the prevalence of taurodontism was reported 22.9% (22.6% in males and 23.3% in females) (P>0.05). Its prevalence was 51.67% in the right and 48.33% in the left quadrants (P>0.05), 34.1% in the mandible and 65.9% in the maxilla (P=0.000) and 79.52% in the second and 20.48% in the first molar (P=0.000). The prevalence of hypotaurodontism, mesotaurodontism and hypertaurodontism was 84.13%, 11.07% and 4.8%, respectively.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of taurodont molars was high in Iran and it was more common in the second molars and in the maxilla. Hypotaurodontism had the highest prevalence.

Taurodontism: A dental rarity

Taurodontism is a developmental disturbance of a tooth in which body is enlarged at the expense of the roots. An enlarged pulp chamber, apical displacement of the pulpal floor and lack of constriction at the cementoenamel junction are the characteristic features. It appears most frequently as an isolated anomaly. But its association with several syndromes and abnormalities has also been reported. Endodontic treatment of taurodont teeth is stated to be complex and difficult due to the complexity in the tooth morphology. This case report presents a case of taurodontism in permanent maxillary molars and their successful endodontic treatment.

Abnormal enamel and pulp dimensions in familial dysautonomia

In familial dysautonomia (FD), a hereditary autonomic and sensory neuropathy, somatic growth is impaired. This study was conducted to explore the possibility that tooth dimensions are altered as a consequence of neural crest dysfunction known to be present in FD. Enamel, dentin, pulp, and tooth size measurements of mandibular primary and permanent molars from FD patients were compared with those of healthy controls. It was found that although tooth size in the FD patients was smaller than normal, the enamel was thicker on the occlusal table, while the pulp chamber was smaller and disproportional to tooth size. Our results suggest distorted tooth dimensions rather than a generalized growth arrest as observed in other hereditary syndromes, such as Down's or Crouzon.

Taurodontism in twins with cleft lip and/or palate

The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of taurodontism of the first and second permanent molars in twins discordant or concordant for clefts, the frequency for each type of cleft in twins, and the concordance-discordance ratio in mono- and dizygotic twins. Thirty-nine pairs of twins (13 monozygotic, 26 dizygotic) between the ages of 7 and 23 yrs were investigated. Taurodontism and hypodontia were determined from orthopantomograms of the dentition. Of the 39 pairs of twins investigated, 16 (41%) had taurodontism, equally in mono- and dizygotic pairs. The highest frequency of the trait was noted in subjects with isolated cleft palate and the lowest in cleft lip subjects. Four of 13 monozygotic pairs with taurodontism were concordant for the trait, as were 9 of 12 dizygotic pairs. Taurodontism was symmetric in 91% of the affected molar pairs. Concomitant taurodontism and hypodontia was observed in 8 of 16 taurodontic twin pairs. We conclude that the etiology of clefting in our group of twins seems to have an effect on the frequency of taurodontism. A high concordance for taurodontism and a high symmetry of the trait may indicate a strong genetic etiology of taurodontism.

Root length, crown height, and root morphology in Turner syndrome

Root length, crown height, and root morphology were studied on intraoral and panoramic radiographs in 33 Turner syndrome patients aged 7.0-16.7 years, subdivided on the basis of karyotype. Thirty-three normal girls aged 10.2-16.4 years served as controls. In the 45X patients and, with the exception of a few teeth, also in the isochromosome and mosaic karyotypes, root length and crown height of incisors, canines, and premolars were significantly reduced. Some teeth showed altered crown-root proportions. Maxillary first premolars showed a significantly increased number of two-rooted and three-rooted variants. Mandibular premolars and molars had a complex root morphology, and a classification system was established including four premolar and six molar root types. Premolars had a significantly increased number of root components. Some of the variants, such as a molar-like second premolar, are apparently specific for these patients. On several first molars a radix entomolaris was identified. Two separate mesial and one or two separate distal roots were also frequently seen. Our investigation demonstrates that X-chromosome deficiency influences root formation.

Hominid enamel thickness: I. The Krapina Neandertals

Dental x-rays were taken of isolated and in situ adult molar teeth of the Krapina Neandertal (n = 63) and of recent and contemporary molars (n = 423). The radiographs were digitized at high resolution (1,024 x 1,520 x 8 bits) with a 35 mm solid state scanner. Ratios of enamel cap area to the underlying dentinal-pulpal area were determined and comparisons were made between average ratios for the Neandertal and contemporary molars. Neandertal molars had significantly smaller ratios than did contemporary teeth (P < 0.05). It is suggested that the smaller ratios represent relatively thinner enamel for Neandertals and that the thin enamel may have been caused by a metabolic depression that resulted in reduced enamel quantity (hypoplasia). Alternatively, the observed differences may be related to expanded pulps seen in various stages of taurodontism.

Taurodontism in a young adult Chinese population

The first and second molars on the panoramic radiographs of 196 consecutive 15-19-year-old Chinese adults (male:female ratio; 46:54) were assessed in order to establish the prevalence of taurodontism, which is considered to be a marker of underlying genetic disease. The criteria of Shifman and Chanannel (Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 1978; 6: 200-3) were employed and the measurements made digitally. Taurodontism was present in 46.4% of patients in this series with a greater prevalence in females (56% compared to 36% in males, P < 0.001). It was found in 21.7% of all teeth examined, and the prevalence was significantly greater in females (26% for compared with 17.4% in males, P < 0.001). Our results suggest that taurodontism is not sufficiently sensitive to be a marker of genetic disease in Chinese.