A Review of Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and Primary Dentin Disorders in Dogs

This review describes the clinical, radiographic and histologic characteristics of dentinogenesis imperfecta diagnosed in two unrelated young dogs without evidence of concurrent osteogenesis imperfecta. The dentition was noted to have generalized coronal discoloration ranging from grey-blue to golden brown. Clinical pulp exposure, coronal wear and fractures were observed as was radiographic evidence of endodontic disease, thin dentin walls or dystrophic obliteration of the pulp canal. The enamel was severely affected by attrition and abrasion despite histologically normal areas; loss was most likely due to poor adherence or support by the underlying abnormal dentin. Histologically, permanent and deciduous teeth examined showed thin, amorphous dentin without organized dentin tubules and odontoblasts had dysplastic cell morphology. Primary dentin disorders, including dentinogenesis imperfecta and dentin dysplasia, have been extensively studied and genetically characterized in humans but infrequently reported in dogs. Treatment in human patients is aimed at early recognition and multi-disciplinary intervention to restore and maintain normal occlusion, aesthetics, mastication and speech. Treatment in both humans and canine patients is discussed as is the documented genetic heritability of primary dentin disorders in humans.