[A particular type of dominant hereditary enamel dysplasia?].

An enamel dysplasia which is obviously transmitted as a dominant trait, is observed in various members of one family over three generations. The picture of affected and non-affected teeth of both dentitions is different from the usual behavior of generalized enamel hypoplasia, as only a delimited period of enamel formation is affected. Findings of exogenous inflammatory changes in enamel make the nature of this hereditary odontopathia more understandable. The origin of this enamel hypoplasia is supposed to be a genetic phase-specific process in the stage of maximum metabolic activity (enamel formation). In different age groups, this disorder shows different degrees of severity, suggesting the existence of modifying factors. Among the subjects, the male sex is predominant, while the females exhibit more marked hypoplasias. Whether this is a new variant of hereditary dusturbance of enamel formation can be confirmed by examination of other large families.