TAURODONTISMThe term was coined by Sir Arthur Keith in 1913 to describe a peculiar dental anomaly in which

the body of the tooth is enlarged at the expense of the roots.

The term ‘TAURODONTISM’ means “bull-like” teeth.

Tauro= bulldont=tooth

• Hammer et al believed that the taurodont is caused by failure of Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath to invaginate at the proper horizontal level.

TAURODONTISM is characterised by an elongated body and short roots with

longitudinally enlarged pulp chambers.

Etiology• A specialised or retrograde character• A primitive pattern• A Mendelian recession trait• An atavistic feature• A mutation resulting from odontoblastic

deficiency during dentinogenesis of roots

Shaw classified taurodont teeth into:

• Hypotaurodont• Mesotaurodont• Hypertaurodont

Syndromes associated with taurodontism are:

1. Klinefelter syndrome2. Down’s syndrome3. Rapp Hodgkin syndrome4. Trichodentosseous syndromeIt is also commonly associated with

Amelogenesis Imperfecta

Conditions associated with taurodontism are:

Certain dermatological conditions like- Epidermolysis bullosa Otodental dysplasia Dyskeratosis congenita

Clinical features:• Age- middle age• Sex- no sex predilection • Site- Deciduous and permanent dentition

affected. Molars are commonly involved. It may be bilateral or unilateral

• Shape of involved teeth- Rectangular shape rather than the normal tapering towards root.

Radiographic features:• Involved teeth tend to be rectangular in shape

rather than taper towards the roots.• Pulp and pulp chamber- pulp chamber is

extremely large. Pulp lacks the usual constriction at the cervix of tooth.

• Roots- the roots and root canals are exceedingly short

DIAGNOSIS:• Clinical- Rectangular shaped crown• Radiographic- Extremely large pulp chambers

Differential diagnosis:Developing Mandibular Molar

Management: No specific treatment as it does not

cause any clinical problems

HYPERCEMENTOSIS Hypercementosis is a non-neoplastic

condition in which excessive cementum is deposited in continuation with the normal radicular dentin.

It is also called as Cementum Hyperplasia or Exostosis of Root.

Etiology:• Loss of antagonist• Inflammation of root• Trauma repair (tooth repair)• Osteitis deformans or Paget’s disease of bone• Others-Hyperpituitarism, calcinosis, thyroid goitre, Vitamin A deficiency, Rheumatic fever

Types of Hypercementosis

• Localised

• Generalised

Clinical features:• Age-adults• Sex- no sex predilection• Site- premolars are often bilaterally affected. Deciduous and permanent dentition affected• Symptomless (unless periapical infection is

present)• Signs- teeth are vital and not sensitive to

percussion• Roots-roots appear larger in diameter and present

with rounded apices

• Fusion of teeth- extensive hypercementosis causes fusion of 2 or more adjacent teeth

• Spike formation- it occurs in case of excessive occlusal trauma

Radiographic features:• Thickening and apparent blunting of roots.• Bulbous appearance of roots.• Apex- Roots exhibit rounding of the apex• Lamina dura- follows the outline of teeth in

normal periodontal space• Bone resorption- irregular accumulation of

cementum that is accomodated by related area of resorption

Differential diagnosis:

• Multirooted teeth and dilacerated root• Fused root

Management:Treatment of the primary cause

Extraction of teeth with hypercementosis is contraindicated

CUSP OF CARABELLI It is an accessory lingual cusp located on

the mesiopalatal cusp of maxillary second deciduous molars and first,second,third permanent molars.

Unilaterally or bilaterally present.

CUSP OF CARABELLI

Accessory cusp is seen occasionallyon mandibular permanent or deciduous molar.

It is called as “Protostylid”

MULBERRY MOLAR MULBERRY MOLAR or MOON’S MOLAR is a

characteristic syphilitic lesion of posterior teeth in which the hypoplastic enamel develops with spherical aggregates orglobules on the surface of dentin.

HUTCHINSON’S INCISOR Enamel Hypoplasia due to congenital syphilis. The anterior teeth affected are called

“ Hutchinson’s teeth”. The upper central incisor is ‘screw driver’

shaped. The mesial and distal surfaces of the crown taper and converge toward the incisal edge. The edge may be notched.

SUPERNUMERARY ROOTS Teeth that are normally single rooted,

particularly the mandibular bicuspids and the cuspids have two roots.

Clinical features:• Site- molars,bicuspids, cuspids• They are seen as slender outgrowths at the

centre of furcation area of molars.

Radiographic features: