Dens invaginatus: literature review and clinical case report

Abstract

Dens invaginatus is a develo- pmental malformation of teeth, which results from abnormal morphodifferentation. It may oc- cur in any permanent tooth, but the most commonly affected are maxillary lateral incisors followed by maxillary central ones. The diagnosis of dens invaginatus may be done radiographically before its eruption and it is imperative for proper prevention of caries, pulp infection and early tooth loss. The authors present two clinical cases of dens invaginatus and a litera- ture review. Case 1: a 12-year-old woman came to our attention to extract the deciduos canines. An unusual bilateral palatal coronary pit morphology led to the clinical suspicion of dens invaginatus in the maxillary lateral incisors. The- re were normal pulp test responses to cold, heat and the electric tester. Caries was present and resin res- toration was performed. Case 2: a 21-year-old woman presented a chronic periapical abscess close to the maxillary central incisors. An X-Ray showed no pulp chamber in this tooth and a dens invagi- natus. The pulp chamber absence prompted us to surgical root canal treatment with reverse amalgam seal. Key words: dens invaginatus, dental malformation, dens in den- te, dilated composite odontoma.