A Clinical and Radiological Study of Regional Odontodysplasia: Five-year Follow-up

Regional odontodysplasia (RO) is a rare and nonhereditary dental malformation. It is a dental alteration of unknown etiology, involving both mesodermal and ectodermal dental components, which is characterized by clinical, radiographic, and histologic features. The maxilla is more often involved than the mandible (especially the left side), and there is no racial predilection, but females are affected twice as often as males. The affected teeth are clinically hypoplastic and hypocalcified, presenting a “ghost-like”appearance radiographically. The present case features a male patient aged 4 years and 6 months who was diagnosed with regional odontodysplasia in the maxilla on the right side, confirmed by clinical and radiographic examination, with a follow up of 5 years. Since teeth affected by RO have a poor prognosis due to the fragile tooth surface and open apices, the longterm treatment strategy depends on periodic clinical and radiological observations.