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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/dentinogenesis-imperfecta/

Dentinogenesis imperfecta

Description

Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a disorder of tooth development. This condition causes the teeth to be discolored (most often a blue-gray or yellow-brown color) and translucent. Teeth are also weaker than normal, making them prone to rapid wear, breakage, and loss. These problems can affect both primary (baby) teeth and permanent teeth.

Researchers have described three types of dentinogenesis imperfecta with similar dental abnormalities. Type I occurs in people who have osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition in which bones are brittle and easily broken. Dentinogenesis imperfecta type II and type III usually occur in people without other inherited disorders. A few older individuals with type II have had progressive high-frequency hearing loss in addition to dental abnormalities, but it is not known whether this hearing loss is related to dentinogenesis imperfecta.

Some researchers believe that dentinogenesis imperfecta type II and type III, along with a condition called dentin dysplasia type II, are actually forms of a single disorder. The signs and symptoms of dentin dysplasia type II are very similar to those of dentinogenesis imperfecta. However, dentin dysplasia type II affects the primary teeth much more than the permanent teeth.

Frequency

Dentinogenesis imperfecta affects an estimated 1 in 6,000 to 8,000 people.

Causes

Mutations in the DSPP gene have been identified in people with dentinogenesis imperfecta type II and type III. Mutations in this gene are also responsible for dentin dysplasia type II. Dentinogenesis imperfecta type I occurs as part of osteogenesis imperfecta, which is caused by mutations in one of several other genes (most often the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes).

The DSPP gene provides instructions for making two proteins that are essential for normal tooth development. These proteins are involved in the formation of dentin, which is a bone-like substance that makes up the protective middle layer of each tooth. DSPP gene mutations alter the proteins made from the gene, leading to the production of abnormally soft dentin. Teeth with defective dentin are discolored, weak, and more likely to decay and break. It is unclear whether DSPP gene mutations are related to the hearing loss found in a few older individuals with dentinogenesis imperfecta type II.

Learn more about the gene associated with Dentinogenesis imperfecta

Inheritance

This condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder.

Other Names for This Condition

  • DGI
  • Hereditary opalescent dentin

Additional Information & Resources

Genetic Testing Information

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center

Patient Support and Advocacy Resources

Clinical Trials

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Scientific Articles on PubMed

References

  • Beattie ML, Kim JW, Gong SG, Murdoch-Kinch CA, Simmer JP, Hu JC. Phenotypic variation in dentinogenesis imperfecta/dentin dysplasia linked to 4q21. J Dent Res. 2006 Apr;85(4):329-33. doi: 10.1177/154405910608500409. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Dong J, Gu T, Jeffords L, MacDougall M. Dentin phosphoprotein compound mutation in dentin sialophosphoprotein causes dentinogenesis imperfecta type III. Am J Med Genet A. 2005 Jan 30;132A(3):305-9. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.30460. Citation on PubMed
  • Kantaputra PN. Dentinogenesis imperfecta-associated syndromes. Am J Med Genet. 2001 Nov 15;104(1):75-8. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.10031. No abstract available. Citation on PubMed
  • Kim JW, Hu JC, Lee JI, Moon SK, Kim YJ, Jang KT, Lee SH, Kim CC, Hahn SH, Simmer JP. Mutational hot spot in the DSPP gene causing dentinogenesis imperfecta type II. Hum Genet. 2005 Feb;116(3):186-91. doi: 10.1007/s00439-004-1223-6. Epub 2004 Dec 8. Citation on PubMed
  • Kim JW, Nam SH, Jang KT, Lee SH, Kim CC, Hahn SH, Hu JC, Simmer JP. A novel splice acceptor mutation in the DSPP gene causing dentinogenesis imperfecta type II. Hum Genet. 2004 Aug;115(3):248-54. doi: 10.1007/s00439-004-1143-5. Epub 2004 Jul 6. Citation on PubMed
  • Lee SK, Lee KE, Song SJ, Hyun HK, Lee SH, Kim JW. A DSPP mutation causing dentinogenesis imperfecta and characterization of the mutational effect. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:948181. doi: 10.1155/2013/948181. Epub 2012 Dec 27. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • MacDougall M, Dong J, Acevedo AC. Molecular basis of human dentin diseases. Am J Med Genet A. 2006 Dec 1;140(23):2536-46. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.31359. Citation on PubMed
  • Malmgren B, Lindskog S, Elgadi A, Norgren S. Clinical, histopathologic, and genetic investigation in two large families with dentinogenesis imperfecta type II. Hum Genet. 2004 Apr;114(5):491-8. doi: 10.1007/s00439-004-1084-z. Epub 2004 Feb 3. Citation on PubMed
  • McKnight DA, Simmer JP, Hart PS, Hart TC, Fisher LW. Overlapping DSPP mutations cause dentin dysplasia and dentinogenesis imperfecta. J Dent Res. 2008 Dec;87(12):1108-11. doi: 10.1177/154405910808701217. Erratum In: J Dent Res. 2009 Jan;88(1):95. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • McKnight DA, Suzanne Hart P, Hart TC, Hartsfield JK, Wilson A, Wright JT, Fisher LW. A comprehensive analysis of normal variation and disease-causing mutations in the human DSPP gene. Hum Mutat. 2008 Dec;29(12):1392-404. doi: 10.1002/humu.20783. Citation on PubMed
  • Song Y, Wang C, Peng B, Ye X, Zhao G, Fan M, Fu Q, Bian Z. Phenotypes and genotypes in 2 DGI families with different DSPP mutations. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2006 Sep;102(3):360-74. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2005.06.020. Epub 2006 Jun 16. Citation on PubMed
  • Xiao S, Yu C, Chou X, Yuan W, Wang Y, Bu L, Fu G, Qian M, Yang J, Shi Y, Hu L, Han B, Wang Z, Huang W, Liu J, Chen Z, Zhao G, Kong X. Dentinogenesis imperfecta 1 with or without progressive hearing loss is associated with distinct mutations in DSPP. Nat Genet. 2001 Feb;27(2):201-4. doi: 10.1038/84848. Erratum In: Nat Genet 2001 Mar;27(3):345. Citation on PubMed
  • Zhang X, Zhao J, Li C, Gao S, Qiu C, Liu P, Wu G, Qiang B, Lo WH, Shen Y. DSPP mutation in dentinogenesis imperfecta Shields type II. Nat Genet. 2001 Feb;27(2):151-2. doi: 10.1038/84765. Citation on PubMed

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