Nature and frequency of dental changes in idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism

Eleven patients with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism were examined orally and medically. All patients had a history of tetanic and/or epileptic manifestations. Correspondingly, disturbances in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus had been present in all. Dental anomalies were demonstrated in all patients but one. Enamel hypoplasia was observed in six cases, disturbances in tooth eruption in eight, root defects in five and hypodontia in seven. Dental anomalies were more frequent than could be expected from the literature, probably because the dental aspects of hypoparathyroid disease often have been overlooked. In the present material, the above-mentioned disturbances were most severe and frequent in the pseudohypoparathyroid group. Hypoparathyroid conditions are highly invalidating, easily accessible to treatment, but often undiagnosed for years. Therefore, the dental observation of severe disturbances in tooth formation and eruption pattern may be of crucial importance and should lead to further medical investigation.