• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2000

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is an inherited disorder of dentin formation, usually exhibiting an autosomal dominant mode of transmission. Type I dentinogenesis imperfecta occurs in patients afflicted with osteogenesis imperfecta. Type II dentinogenesis imperfecta is not associated with osteogenesis imperfecta. Type III dentinogenesis imperfecta (Brandywine type) occurs in a racial isolate area in the state of Maryland. In all three types, teeth of both dentitions are affected with variable clinical appearances. The teeth are opalescent with the color ranging from bluish-gray to brown to yellowish. The dentin is abnormally soft, providing inadequate functional support to the overlying enamel. Although the enamel is normal, it fractures or chips away easily, exposing the occlusal and incisal dentin. The exposed soft dentin often undergoes rapid and severe functional attrition. The teeth exhibit bulb-shaped crowns with constricted cementoenamel junctions and thin roots. The teeth will exhibit varying stages of obliteration of the coronal and root pulpal chambers. The cementum, periodontal ligament and supporting alveolar bone appear normal. The enamel is normal. The mantle dentin remains nearly normal, whereas the remaining dentin is severely dysplastic. The dentinal tubules are disoriented, irregular, widely spaced, and usually larger than normal.