• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.181-185
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• 2012

Dens invaginatus is a developmental anomaly resulting in a deepening or invagination of the enamel organ into the dental papilla prior to calcification of the dental tissues. The most widely used classification of dens invaginatus is the system described by Oehler categorizes invaginations into three classes as determined by how far they extend radiographically from the crown into the root. Oehler's classification type III is that the invagination extends through the root and communicates with the periodontal ligament. There is usually no communication with the pulp. In Type III lesions, any infection within the invagination can lead to an inflammatory response within the periodontal tissues giving rise to a 'peri-invagination periodontitis'. In the cases presented here, we treated two patients who were refered for 'peri-invagination periodontitis' on maxillary lateral incisor with Oehler's type III invagination by different approaches each, and they have shown satisfactory outcomes. Although there are several approaches to the management of dens invaginatus, the most important objective is to preserve the health of the pulp, which can be achieved by early diagnosis and the prophylactic treatment regardless of severity. When disease has developed, decision has to be made whether to treat the invagination and the pulp separately.