Oral abnormalities are diagnosed by a visual dental examination. A normal oral evaluation would show no signs of broken or fractured teeth, attrition of tooth enamel, no spacing between teeth, no soft tissue mass or sign of dental abscess, and a bite relationship where the mandibular (bottom) teeth interdigitate within a normal plane of 1-2mm behind and underneath the maxillary (top) teeth. Overlapping diseases
It is phenotypically difficult to diagnose between TDO and Amelogenesis imperfecta of the hypomaturation-hypoplasia type with taurodontism (AIHHT) as they are very closely linked phenotypically during adulthood, and the only distinguishing characteristic is found during genetic analysis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification. This type of test in diagnosis of TDO is only used during research or if there is a concern of genetic issue to a particular individual whose family member has been diagnosed with TDO. Prevention
Preventive maintenance therapy for the oral effects of TDO involve frequent dental cleanings, professional application of desensitizing medication, diet counseling, and oral hygiene instructions in proper home care and maintenance; medicated dental rinses and toothpastes are also prescribed as people with TDO are more prone to oral hard tissue disease and early tooth loss.
Oral abnormalities
In the oral cavity 100% of people diagnosed with TDO have taurodontism which is characterized by vertically enlarged pulp chambers at the expense of the roots of the teeth; the floor of the pulp chamber and furcation is moved apically down. This is due to the failure of the Hertwig epithelial root sheath which maps the shape of the forming tooth roots during active differentiation. Amelogenesis imperfecta, an abnormal formation of the enamel or external layer of the crown of the tooth, may also be present where the tooth enamel may be thin or absent. There are several clinical subsets of amelogenesis imperfecta, but common to TDO is the hypoplastic-hypomaturation subtype; the hypomaturation-hypoplastic is less common in individuals with TDO. The difference between the 2 dominant subtypes is the changes seen in the enamel matrix, and the phenotypic type that predominates. The hypoplastic-hypomaturation type of amelogenesis imperfecta with TDO occurs where the tooth enamel depicts a generalized pitted pattern, with open contacts between the teeth as well as an open bite. A smaller number of cases are of the hypomaturation-hypoplastic case type, in which the enamel structure is softer due to the under maturation of ameloblasts during development. Mandibular prognathism also called a severe underbite, is also a prominent feature in TDO. Prognathism defects are diagnosed based the level of severity that this condition interferes with being able to chew or speak properly.Due to improper tooth development, TDO patients have high rates of dental caries causing dental abscess.