The root furcation moves

apically leaving the individual

roots greatly shortened even
though the overall root length
may be normal.
Taurodontism- Body of the tooth enlarge at the expense of the roots.
The pulp chamber is elongated and extends deeply into the region of
the roots

Permanent molars most often affected

similar condition is seen in the teeth of cud-chewing animals such as

BULL
• Taurodontism may occur in permanent or the primary dentition
• Present in the molars and less often in the premolars.
• Single or multiple teeth ..or several molars in the same quadrant
• unilateral or bilateral

. The teeth themselves have no remarkable or

unusual morphologic clinical characteristic
CAUSES OF TAURODONTISM
(1) a specialized or retrograde character
(2) a primitive pattern
(3) a mendelian recessive trait
(4) an atavistic feature
The condition can be classified according to the extent of
the pulp chamber elongation(shaw)

• Mild (hypotaurodontism)-pulp chamber is enlarged

• Moderate (mesotaurodontism) - the tooth roots are divided
only at the middle third
• Severe (hypertaurodontism) -bifurcation or trifurcation
occurs near the root apices

Cynodont hypotaurodont mesotaurodont hyperataurodontism

SHIFMAN AND CHANANNEL CLASSIFICATION
• The measurements include two variables:
• variable 1 is defined as the height of the pulp chamber,
between the lowest point of the roof and the highest point
of the floor
• variable 2 is the distance between the lowest point of the
roof of the pulp chamber and the apex of the longest root.
• Taurodont index TI = variable 1/variable 2 × 100
• hypotaurodontism (TI value 20–30)
• mesotaurodontism (TI value 30–40)
• hypertaurodontism (TI value 40–70).
May be associated with several syndromic conditions such as

• Down syndrome
• Trichodento-osseous syndrome
• Ectodermal dysplasia (hypohidrotic)
• Amelogenesis imperfecta (hypomaturation-hypoplastic type).

Taurodontism provides a valuable clue in detecting its association with

many syndromes and other systemic conditions.
 The endodontic therapy of choice in these situations will
be conservative. Therefore, root canal treatment
becomes a challenge.

For the prosthetic treatment of a taurodont tooth, it has

been recommended that post placement be avoided for
CLINICAL tooth reconstruction.
OVERVIEW
extraction of such teeth may not be a problem unless the
roots are not widely divergent.

From a periodontal standpoint, the chances of furcation

involvement are considerably less than those in normal
teeth .