Dens evaginatus (tuberculated cusps): genetic and treatment considerations

This report documents the occurrence of a rare dental anomaly, dens evaginatus, in several members of a family of Guatemalan Indian descent. Previous reports on this anomaly reveal that the majority of cases have occurred in persons of Mongoloid extraction. These same reports have suggested a genetic component in the etiology of the anomaly, with most cases, however, occurring randomly. This is the first report in which the trait has been reported in successive generations. The precise mechanism of genetic transmission is still not entirely clear, although autosomal dominant inheritance is probable.