Regional odontodysplasia: review of the literature and report of a case.

Regional odontodysplasia is a rare and unique dental developmental anomaly that affects tooth morphogenesis. This case is unusual in that it involved the mandibular dentition. However, in this case the mandible was unilaterally involved. The presence of an abscess in relation to the lower right first permanent molar, in the absence of deep caries or periodontal pathology was an interesting finding. The radiographic appearance of bizarre pulpal morphology with high pulp horns extending to the occlusal surface would provide an open communication between the pulpal tissue and oral cavity. The importance of the first permanent molar as a strategic tooth was recognized and an apexification procedure was performed. The care and treatment of a child with odontodysplasia requires a multidisciplinary approach. In this case the right lower primary cuspid and first primary molar had been extracted previously. The early extraction of these teeth and the subsequent delay in hard tissue formation and eruption of the permanent successors could have resulted in altered growth of the alveolus in this region.