Typical roentgenographic appearance in an atypical case of dentinogenesis imperfecta (opalescent dentine)

Roentgeno-oddities

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TYPICAL ROENTGENOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE IN AN ATYPICAL CASE OF DENTINOGENESIS IMPERFECTA (OPALESCENT DENTINE)

he accompanying Panograph is that of a 22-year-old woman whose dentition exhibited characteristics of dentinogenesis imperfecta in the first molars and lower incisors only. This hereditary disturbance also appeared in two members of her immediate family. The patient stated that in the latter casesall the teeth were involved. Although dentinogenesis imperfecta may be accompanied by similar disturbances in bone (for example, osteogenesis imperfecta), this was not evident in either this patient or in the others cited. In a typical case, the teeth clinically appear gray or opalescent. In this patient, however, only the maxillary and mandibular molars, along with the four mandibular incisors, evidenced the classic appearance of opalescent dentine. The radiograph illustrates the typical features of short conical roots, with narrow pulp chambers in some areas and complete obliteration of the pulpal canal in other areas. Joseph T. Pay,

Major, DC, U&4

Wm. Beaumont General Hospital El Paso, Texas

to the readers of ORAL SURGERP,ORAL MEDICINE AND which demonstrate unusual, unexpected, rare, or bizarre roentgenographic changes. These roentgenograms will be accompanied by an explanation or by words of inquiry regarding the particular change. Please submit 5 by 7 inch glossy black and white prints along with two copies of the description of the case. All material for publication should be submitted to Dr. Lincoln R. Manson-Hing, University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama. Each month this section will bring

ORAL PATHOLOGYone or more roentgenograms

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