Taurodontism
Taurodontism | |
---|---|
Specialty | Dentistry |
Taurodontism is defined as the enlargement of
Classification
The term was coined by Sir Arthur Keith. It comes from the Latin taurus meaning "bull" and the Greek ὀδούς (odous), genitive singular ὀδόντος (odontos) meaning "tooth", to indicate the similarity of these teeth to those of hoofed/ungulates, or cud-chewing animals.[2]
Radiographic characteristics of taurodontism include:
- lack of pulp chamber constriction at the cementoenamel junction (CEJ);
- an enlarged pulp chamber that appears rectangular in shape; and
- displacement of the pulp chamber floor toward the root apex, shortening the roots and root canals.
Earlier classification systems considered only the apical displacement of the pulp chamber floor; whereas, later systems additionally consider the position of the pulp chamber in relation to the
Shaw 1928
One of the first attempts to classify taurodontism was made by C.J.Shaw.
Shifman & Chanannel 1978
Later, Shifman & Chanannel[5] quantified the degree of taurodontism based on a mathematical formula relating the anatomical landmarks as shown in the figure above. The anatomical landmark ratio is calculated as shown below:
Landmark ratio
Where, A = the lowest point of the pulp chamber roof, B = the highest point of the pulp chamber floor, and C = the longest root’s apex.
Using this formula, a tooth is a taurodont if the landmark ratio is ≥ 0.2 and the distance from the highest point of the pulp chamber floor (B) to the cemento-enamel junction (D) is ≥ 2.5 mm. The full classification system based on this formula are displayed in the table below:
Classification | Landmark ratio |
---|---|
Normal | < 0.2 |
Hypo-taurodont | ≥ 0.2 - 0.209 |
Meso-taurodont | ≥ 0.3 - 0.399 |
Hyper-taurodont | ≥ 0.4 - 0.75 |
It is important to note that historically, there has been professional debate regarding the taurodont classification systems as to: 1) how much displacement and/or morphologic change constitutes taurodontism, 2) whether classification should be indexed stepwise or on a continuum, and 3) whether to include certain teeth in the occurrence of taurodontism. For example, as premolars are narrow mesio-distally, taurodontism is hard to identify radiographically on premolars. Therefore, some researchers exclude premolars from their classification systems. Additionally, there has been criticism over the use of landmarks that undergo changes. For example, due to trauma or wear, tertiary dentin can be deposited which can then alter some measurements; thus, caution should be employed when diagnosing taurodontism in this case. Finally, as these measurements are dimensionally quite small, they are also subject to large relative error.[3]
Clinical Considerations
The altered morphology of taurodont teeth can present challenges during dental treatment.[3] Most notably, endodontists will have difficulty in not only removing the voluminous pulp, but also filling the large pulp chamber and complex root canal system.
Prosthodontists and orthodontists should also exercise caution in using taurodont teeth as sites for dental anchorage. Due to the apical displacement of the furcation area, the taurodont tooth is not held as securely in the alveolar socket. Conversely, this may make taurodont teeth easier to extract.
Finally, taurodont teeth may have favorable prognosis from a periodontal point of view, as the furcation area is apical and thus less susceptible to periodontal damage.
Anthropology
Taurodontism is still a condition of anthropological importance as it was seen in
The trait "is common among extant New World monkeys, apes, and fossil hominins".[7]
Related conditions
Although taurodontism is frequently an isolated anomaly, it may be found in association with several other conditions such as:
Taurodontism may be related to:[9]
- A retrograde character
- A primitive pattern
- An autosomal dominant trait
- Atavisticfeature
- An X-linked trait
- A mutation
References
- PMID 25629078.
- ^ Keith, A. Sir (1916). The antiquity of man. Third edit. (Williams and Norgate), London. Pp. 147-148,473-478.L
- ^ PMID 18363703.
- ^ Shaw JC (1928) Taurodont teeth in South African races. Journal of Anatomy 62, 476–98.
- ^ a b Schiffman A, Chanannel I. Prevalence of taurodontism found in radiographic dental examination of 1200 young adult Israeli patients. Community Dent oral Epidemiol 1978; 6: 200-203.
- ^ "Thames & Hudson Publishers | Essential illustrated art books | The Neanderthals Rediscovered | How Modern Science is Rewriting Their Story". www.thamesandhudson.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-26. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- ^ Irish, J.D. & Scott, G.R. (2016). A Companion to Dental Anthropology. Wiley Blackwell. Page 197. Retrieved January 14, 2017, from link.
- .
- PMID 25210354.