International Journal of Dental Sciences and Research, 2015, Vol. 3, No.

2, 43-44
Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ijdsr/3/2/5
© Science and Education Publishing
DOI:10.12691/ijdsr-3-2-5

Taurodontism of First Deciduous Molars: Report of A

Case and Literature Review
AMIT R KANKARIYA*, ALOK R PATEL, AMIT B CHAVAN, KRISHNA PATIL

Department of Pedodontics. Bharti Vidyapeeth Dental College and Hospital, Pune. Maharashtra. India
*Corresponding author: dr.amitkankariya@gmail.com
Received February 04, 2015; Revised March 05, 2015; Accepted March 15, 2015
Abstract Taurodontism is a developmental disturbance of teeth which has a rare occurrence in deciduous
dentition and very few cases have been reported in literature. This paper describes a case of bilateral taurodontic
tooth of deciduous first molar of a 7 year old female patient and also discusses the various treatment plans that can
be carried out in case of such teeth.
Keywords: Taurodontism, deciduous first molar
Cite This Article: AMIT R KANKARIYA, ALOK R PATEL, AMIT B CHAVAN, and KRISHNA PATIL,
“Taurodontism of First Deciduous Molars: Report of A Case and Literature Review.” International Journal of
Dental Sciences and Research, vol. 3, no. 2 (2015): 43-44. doi: 10.12691/ijdsr-3-2-5.

1. Introduction
Taurodontism is a developmental disturbance of teeth
that lacks the constriction at the level of the
cementoenamel junction and is characterized by elongated
pulp chambers and apical displacement of bifurcation or
trifurcation of the roots, giving it a rectangular shape
(Brkic´ & Filipovic´ 1991, Hargreaves & Goodis 2002,
Neville et al. 2002, Rao & Arathi 2006).
The term taurodontism originates from the Latin word
“tauros” which means bull and Greek word “odus” which
means tooth. Taurodontism was first described by
Gorjanovic´-Kramberger in 1908; however, the term
taurodontism was coined by Arthur Keith in 1913 to
describe molar teeth resembling those of bulls [1].
Shaw in 1928 classified this condition as hypotaurodont,
mesotaurodont and hypertaurodont based on relative
displacement of the floor of pulp chamber.
Figure 1. Shaw’s Classification of Taurodontism
In 1977 Feichfnger and Rossiwall stated that the
distance from bifurcation of the root to the CEJ should be
greater than occulusocervical distance for a taurodontic
tooth. Shifman and Chanannel in 1978 proposed the
following criteria:- Taurodontism is present, if the
distance (a) from the lowest point (A) at the occlusal end
of the pulp chamber to the highest point at the apical end
of the chamber (B), divided by the distance (b) from the
occlusal end of the pulp chamber to the apex (C) is 0.2
mm or greater, that is, a/b = 0.2 mm and if the distance
from the highest point of the pulp chamber floor to CEJ is
more than 2.5 mm. Its occurrence in permanent teeth is
common but is quite rare in deciduous dentition. This
paper describes a case of taurodontic tooth in deciduous
dentition.
2. Case Report
A 7 year old female patient reported to Department of
Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Bharti Vidyapeeth
Dental College and Hospital, Pune, with a chief complaint
of pain in the lower left posterior region. The first
deciduous molar on left side was found to be carious.
IOPA of teeth revealed unusual long pulp chamber which
had no constriction at the cemento-enamel junction. No
distinct roots were found but large canal openings, ending
at the apex were observed. This led us to the confirmation
of diagnosis of taurodontism of deciduous mandibular first
molar on left side. Further evaluation revealed that even
the right deciduous mandibular first molar was also
taurodontic.
The deciduous first molar on left side was
hypertaurodont whereas the right deciduous first molar
was mesotaurodont. The second deciduous molars in the
lower arch and both the first and second molars in the
upper arch were of normal shape and configuration.
Rubber dam application was done and complete
excavation of caries was done. After confirmation of non
pulpal exposure restoration of the affected tooth was
carried out. The right deciduous first molar was found to
be non cariogenic.
 International Journal of Dental Sciences and Research
Figure 2. IOPA of Deciduous Mandibular Left First Molar
Figure 3. IOPA of Deciduous Mandibular Right First Molar
3. Discussion
Taurodontism is a rare dental anamoly of deciduous
dentition in which the tooth resembles as a bull-like
heavily bodied tooth in which crown tends to enlarge at
the expense of root due to which the pulp chamber has a
greater apico-occlusal height. This causes apical
displacement of bifurcation/trifurcation of the roots. Also
the crown of these teeth lacks cervical constriction giving
it a heavy rectangular shape to the taurodontic tooth.
The incidence of taurodontism has been reported as 2.5-
5.6% in adult population. It is reported to be lower than
1% in modern man and 3% in primitive man, Eskimos and
American Indians. Taurodontism can occur as an isolated
case or as a component of specific syndromes like Down’s
syndrome, Klinefelter’s syndrome, Apert’s syndrome,
Mohr’s Syndrome. In the present case, the patient had no
systemic diseases or syndromes.
Theories concerning the pathogenesis of taurodontic
tooth formation include, an unusual developmental pattern,
a delay in the calcification of the pulp chamber floor, an
odontoblastic deficiency, an alteration in Hertwig’s
epithelial root sheath, with an apparent failure of the
epithelial diaphragm to invaginate at the normal horizontal
level and “a delayed or incomplete union of the horizontal
flaps of the epithelial diaphragm” [3,4,5].
Most reports reveal that permanent teeth are more
frequently affected than deciduous teeth. Also studies
carried out by Keene in 1966, Shiffman in 1978, Park in
2006 stated that mandibular molars are found to be
44
affected more often than maxillary molars. In the present
case, the mandibular first deciduous molar of both sides
were involved.
A study carried out by Llamas & Jimenaz – Planas
stated that premolars were commonly affected teeth, but
since the premolars were still in the developing stage they
could not be evaluated.
As a taurodont shows wide variation in the size and
shape of the pulp chamber with varying degrees of
obliteration and canal configuration, root canal therapy
becomes a challenge. As taurodont shows wide variation
in the size and shape of the pulp chamber with varying
degrees of obliteration and canal configuration, more care
should be taken during root canal therapy. Increased
hemorrhage during access opening may be mistaken for
perforation. Since the roots are short and pulpal floor is
placed apically, care should be taken to prevent
perforation [6].
The pulp contents of these teeth are voluminous and
hence to ensure complete removal copious irrigation with
2.5% sodium hypochlorite should be done to soften the
pulp [7].
Furthermore, conventional obturating materials like
Zinc oxide eugenol in bulk may take longer time to resorb
which may delay the natural exfoliation of the tooth. So in
such cases combination of calcium hydroxide along with
iodoform as an obturating material can act as a wonderful
material due to its added advantage of faster rate of
resorption [7].
More emphasis should be given on its occurrence in
both dentitions of the same patient, it occurrence in
families, and its association with other abnormalities.
Importance should be given for careful diagnosis and
treatment modalities.
References
[1] Keith A. Problems relating to the teeth of the earlier form of
prehistoric man. Ray Soc Med Sect Odont Proc 1913; 6: 103-24.
[2] Llamas R, Jimenez-Planas A. Taurodontism in premolar. Oral
Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1993; 75: 501-5.
[3] Mark T. Jaspers and Carl J. Witkop, JR.: “Taurodontism, an
Isolated Trait Associated with Syndromes and X-Chromosomal
Aneuploidy”. Am J Hum Genet 1980 May; 32 (3): 396-413
[4] Sood, P.B., Sood, M. “Taurodontism and Pyramidal Molars”.
Journal Indian Soc. Pedo.Prev. Dent 10: 25-27, 1992.
[5] Jafarzadeh. H., Azarpazhooh. A and Mayhall J.T. “Taurodontism:
a review of the condition and endodontic treatment challenges”.
International Endodontic Journal, 41, 375-388, 2008.
[6] Panigrahi A, Panigrahi RG, K. T. S, Bhuyan R, Bhuyan SK. Non
Syndromic Familial Bilateral Decidious Taurodontism – A First
Case Report. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR.
2014; 8 (12): ZD01-ZD02.
[7] Reddy Venugopal, Rao V. Arun Prasad, Kumar R. Endodontic
Treatment in Primary Molars with Taurodontism-A Case Report.
Annals and essences of dentistry. Year: 2010, Volume: 2, Issue: 2
(52-55).
[8] P. Tyagi & S. Gupta. Bilateral Taurodontism in Deciduous Molars
People’s Journal of Scientific Research Vol. 3 (2), July 2010.