Dens evaginatus. Case report and review of the literature

Dens evaginatus is a disturbance in tooth formation that produces a tubercle of hard tissue on the occlusal surfaces of the teeth. This unusual condition occurs most frequently in Oriental persons and is relatively uncommon in the western hemisphere. The tubercle, which often contains pulp tissue, can cause alterations in occlusion; pulpal and periapical inflammation are common sequelae of attrition or fracture of the evagination. Although teeth with necrotic pulps require extraction or endodontic therapy, prophylactic pulp capping is recommended for vital teeth. This case report of a 24-year-old Chinese-Canadian woman with three affected teeth demonstrates the clinical consequences of dens evaginatus.