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Background:
The presence of talon cusp is important for differential diagnosis as it
can be confused with other dental anomalies, such as fusion of teeth.
Misdiagnosis can lead to delayed or inappropriate treatment, which may
cause further complications.
Case presentation:
A healthy 7-year-old girl was previously referred to an oral surgeon to
be treated for an extra tooth-like structure in the maxillary anterior
region. Fusion of the right maxillary central incisor with a mesiodens
was diagnosed, but definitive treatment was deferred until root
development was complete. On a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)
scan, made at a follow-up two years later, the observed tooth anatomy
did not match the initial diagnosis. The patient was referred first to
an endodontic office and later to the University Dental Clinic, where
she was examined at the age of 11 years. The right maxillary central
incisor exhibited a pronounced, well-demarcated accessory cusp on the
palatal surface extending to the level of the incisal edge, on first
sight, resembling a fused mesiodens. The accessory cusp had created
occlusal interference with labial displacement of the affected tooth,
resulting in compromised dental esthetics and an increased risk for
dental trauma.
Results:
A diagnosis of free true palatal talon with a pulp horn inside was made.
Accordingly, the talon cusp was almost completely eliminated in four
visits over a period of six months, giving the crown a normal
morphology. This allowed adequate space for orthodontic retraction of
the tooth.
Conclusion:
Dentists should be aware of the clinical features of
talon cusp and its radiographic appearance to make an accurate diagnosis
and provide appropriate treatment.
Key words:
talon cusp,
dental morphology, dental anomaly, permanent maxillary incisor,
differential diagnosis
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Address of correspondence:
Assistant Professor Iztok Štamfelj, DMD, MSc, PhD
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana
Hrvatski trg 6
SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
E-mail address:
iztok.stamfelj@mf.uni-lj.si
telephone (office): 00386 15 22 43 72
Copyright © 2024by The Editorial Council of The Acta
Stomatologica Naissi
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