Complications occurring resultant to dens invaginatus: case report.

This case report describes the anomalous development of maxillary permanent lateral incisors in a seven-year-old white male. The maxillary right permanent lateral incisor radiographically demonstrated anomalous development characteristic of dens invaginatus. A coincidental finding of a microdontic maxillary left permanent lateral incisor also was observed at this time. This patient presented with a cellulitis of odontogenic origin in the area of the dens invaginatus. Upon resolution of the cellulitis and removal of the dens invaginatus, microscopic examination of the tooth and surrounding soft tissue fragments revealed the pathway of the infection to be periodontal in nature. Dens invaginatus and microdontia are conditions which most commonly affect the morphology of maxillary permanent lateral incisors. Although often observed, these anomalous teeth present a challenge to the dental practitioner. Morphologically anomalous teeth may cause esthetic, orthodontic, and prosthetic problems. In addition, due to the caries susceptibility of teeth demonstrating dens invaginatus, acute odontogenic infection is a possible sequela. This article illustrates a case in which a child demonstrated both a microdontic maxillary left permanent lateral incisor and an erupting malformed maxillary right permanent lateral incisor indicative of dens invaginatuso The many problems associated with the presence of such teeth are discussed.