Prevalence of Turner's Teeth

The biomineralization of premolars and front teeth may be affected by osteitic processes of the predecessing deciduous tooth resulting in clinical aspect varying from focal areas of opaque or brown discoloration to extensive hypoplasia. Enamel defects of this pathogenesis are called Turner's tooth. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of Turner's teeth in an unselected population using a specific index. Over a ten year period all patients of a general practice (n = 2212; 1532 female, 580 male) have been examined for developmental disturbances. Methods: Out of 49772 teeth, 123 teeth were reliably identified as Turner's tooth by clinical aspect and dental history (anamnesis, records proprio sive alio loco). They have been rated using a specific index that distinguishes the extend of hypoplasia (0 - no hypoplasia; I - hypoplasia with aplastic defect of enamel; II - hypoplasia with aplastic defect of enamel and dentin; III - hypoplasia with irregularity of the tooth crown) and discoloration (a - no discoloration; b - white opacities of the enamel; c - yellow-brownish discoloration of the enamel). Results: When defects were related to the individual, in the present sample the prevalence for Turner's tooth was 5.8 %. 39 teeth affected were incisors, 84 were premolars. According to the classification by the index, two main groups have been identified. One group of Turner's teeth predominantly presented discolorations and a second group was more affected by a distinct hypoplasia. In accordance with the current concept of the pathogenesis of Turner's teeth three types of manifestations must be differentiated. These are the early onset type, characterized by aplastic defects, the late onset type, characterized by discoloration and a mixed type, showing both hypoplasia and discoloration. Conclusion: It is concluded, that the prevalence of Turner's teeth in an unselected population is about 5.8%.