Crown components of mandibular molar teeth in 45,X females (Turner syndrome).

This study was designed to determine the possible effect of one X-chromosome constitution on components of the human permanent and primary molar teeth. Enamel, dentine, pulp and crown dimensions were measured on radiographs of first and second permanent and second primary mandibular molars of 49 Finnish 45,X females (Turner syndrome), their 46 first-degree male and female relatives and 50 non-related males and females. In permanent first and second molars of the 45,X females, crown width and the dimensions of tooth components were less than those of normal females and males. Reduction in size affected first more than second molars, and in both teeth the enamel was relatively as well as absolutely thinner than in the controls. No differences were found in tooth components between normal relatives and unrelated controls. These data agree with previous studies which have demonstrated that the X chromosome promotes enamel apposition and that both X chromosomes in normal females are active in amelogenesis, while the Y chromosome influences both dentine and enamel growth. The relative reduction in "dentine" or the estimated mesiodistal width of the tooth germ in the 45,X females indicates that their tooth development is affected at an early stage of morphogenesis. Taken together with the results already reported for anterior teeth, the present results suggest that there is an inverse correlation between the duration of crown formation and the severity of size reduction.