The dental defects of vitamin D-resistant rickets.

Clinical, roentgenographic and morphologic features of teeth from patients with vitamin D-resistant rickets are described based on a study of 28 teeth from 5 patients. Clinically normal teeth become symptomatic and develop roentgenographic evidence of periapical infection. The exposed dentin is vulnerable to microbial invasion because of a defective globular-type calcification as seen in both ground and decalcified sections. The changes are distinctive and pathognomonic, but the effects of therapy (vitamin D) have not yet been ascertained.