# Regional odontodysplasia: a report of unusual case with in-depth analysis

## TL;DR

This paper reports a rare dental condition called regional odontodysplasia in a teenager, focusing on its clinical features, radiographic appearance, and microscopic analysis.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed clinical and microscopic analysis of a rare dental anomaly with preserved alveolar bone height and no significant mineral density differences.

## Key findings

- Affected teeth showed extreme root shortening but preserved alveolar bone height.
- Mineral density analysis found no significant differences between affected and normal teeth.
- Resorptive changes, possibly due to inflammation, may contribute to root anomalies.

## Abstract

Regional odontodysplasia (RO) is a rare developmental anomaly affecting dental tissue formation, typically confined to a single quadrant. It manifests through hypoplastic enamel, irregular dentin, short roots with open apices, and a characteristic “ghost-like” radiographic appearance. Its etiology remains unclear, with vascular, genetic and inflammatory factors proposed.

In this study, we report the case of a 15-year-old female with mandibular RO affecting canine, premolars, and molars, focusing on the clinical, radiographic, and microscopic analysis of the affected teeth, including mineral density evaluation.

The 2nd premolar and first and second molars (teeth 35, 36, 37) exhibited severe morphological defects and were extracted due to extreme root shortening (40 %, 90 %, and >95 % reduction), while alveolar bone height remained preserved. The canine and 1st premolar were affected to a lesser extent and were conserved upon orthodontic treatment plan. Scanning electron microscopy revealed slight decreases in the number and diameter of the dentinal tubules in the affected teeth compared with those in the control teeth. Contrary to many reported cases of RO, mineral density analysis of enamel and dentin revealed no significant differences between affected and normal teeth. The observations reported in this case suggest that resorptive changes, possibly influenced by inflammatory factors, could contribute to the observed root anomalies. The preservation of alveolar bone height provides a favourable prognosis for prosthetic rehabilitation.

These findings help elucidate the structural and functional implications of ROs. This study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management for optimal outcomes.