Dens invaginatus: a review of its aetiology, diagnosis and clinical management

Abstract

Dens invaginatus is a developmental anomaly predominantly occurring in maxillary lateral incisors, resulting in the invagination of the enamel into the dentine. This infolded area creates a void enabling the stagnation of bacteria and development of dental caries. If left untreated the caries may progress and ultimately result in pulpal necrosis. The treatment of these teeth can be challenging due to the potential complexity of the lesion. It is essential that teeth with dens invaginatus are diagnosed early allowing prophylactic treatment and prevention of pulpal necrosis. This article aims to review the aetiology, prevalence, classification, diagnosis, treatment and orthodontic considerations of teeth affected by dens invaginatus. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of dens invaginatus enables early diagnosis, effective management and, therefore, the best treatment outcomes.