Talon cusps: a dental anomaly in the Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

Dental casts of fourteen cases of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) were studied. Two exhibited talon cusps, a dental anomaly which is rare in the normal population. Three others exhibited prominent cingula, which were interpreted as representing a tendency toward talon cusp formation. While additional cases should be examined for this anomaly to determine its frequency in RTS, the presence of talon cusps in a suspected case supports that diagnosis. Teeth exhibiting talon cusps are especially prone to caries and often require early treatment if they are to be retained.