Developmental Dental Defects - The D3 Group

Mission of the D3 Group

The increasing prevalence of Developmental Dental Defects (DDD) and the uncertainty regarding their causes led to the initiation in 2007 of an informal group of interested clinicians, scientists and public health representatives. For simplicity, we call ourselves the D3 Group (i.e. DDD = D3). Our overall mission is to improve the health and well-being of people afflicted with DDD by supporting scientists and clinicians investigating the causes, management and prevention of these disorders. We also aim to improve education about DDD, at publica and professional levels. Several members of the D3 Group have published extensively in this field, providing stimulating inputs from basic sciences through to epidemiology and economics. The D3 Group is an initiative of the Melbourne Research Unit for Facial Disorders (MRUFD).

D3 Group Meetings

At regular intervals (about 2-3 per year) we hold meetings that include presentations and free discussion about DDD. Laboratory, clinical and community aspects are covered. People willing to make presentations (e.g. case reports, journal club, research results) are invited to contact one of the organisers. Attendance is open to any interested parties - please contact us to arrange an invitation. The D3 Group meetings are generously hosted by Dentsply Australia.

Next Meeting of the D3 Group:

Guest speakers:	Dr Peter Arrow (Dental Health Services, WA) "Prevalence of Molar Hypomineralization in Western Australian children" and Dr Erin Mahoney (School of Medicine, Wellington) "The prevalence and carious potential of hypomineralized molars"
Date & time:	Wednesday, 27th May 2009  (6pm - 9pm)
Venue:	Royal Dental Hospital, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton (map) Jean Falkner Tahija Lecture Theatre
Organisers:	Mike Hubbard, Basic and Applied Research
	David Manton, Clinical Research
	Mike Morgan, Community Research

Supporting research into Molar/Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH)

Of prime interest to the D3 Group is a disturbingly prevalent condition called Molar/Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH). Widely recognised only in the past decade or so, MIH presents routinely as defective enamel in one or more of the adult first molars and sometimes affects the front teeth as well. Typically the defective tooth enamel is discoloured (yellow/brown, not white) and soft, leading to increased incidence of dental pain and decay. Given the associated costs for patients and society, it is of particular concern that from 5 to 25% of adolescents around the world are afflicted with MIH (see review). A recent report from Western Australia shows MIH prevalence at the upper end of this range, and with about 6% of 7-year-old children affected seriously (see report).  It follows that this disorder costs Australians well over 100 million dollars per year.

Although the cause of MIH remains unknown, suspicions centre on environmental toxins and several factors associated with childhood illness (see review). For this reason it is reasonable to assume the condition can be prevented once its cause is known. Research into the cause of MIH is being undertaken locally by members of the D3 Group (see local MIH research effort). Other members are working to improve the diagnosis and clinical treatment of MIH, and to improve understanding of MIH at the community level (i.e. prevalence, risk factors, economic cost).

Please donate to D3 Group

People willing to make financial donations to support this important research are encouraged to contribute through the mechanisms described for MRUFD, specifying the D3 Group as appropriate (in Comments field).

Practitioners willing to participate in ethically approved collection of MIH specimens are urged to contact David Manton.

D3 Group Representatives

Basic research

• Prof. Mike Hubbard, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne
• Dr Joseph Palamara, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne

Applied research

• Dr Garry Nervo, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne
• A/Prof. Roger Hall, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne

Clinical research

• Dr David Manton, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne
• Emeritus Prof. Louise Messer, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne

Community research

• Prof. Mike Morgan, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne
• Dr Hanny Calache, Dental Health Services Victoria, Melbourne

Hospital practice

• A/Prof. Nicky Kilpatrick, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne

Private practice

• Dr Margarita Silva, Camberwell, Melbourne

Postgraduate students

• Dr Narisha Chawla, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne
• Dr Felicity Crombie, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne
• Jon Mangum, Department of Pharmacology, University of Melbourne

Trade

• Dr Pamela Dalgleish, Dentsply Clinical Education program, Melbourne

DDD publications by D3 Group members

D3 Group members have published extensively about various aspects of Developmental Dental Defects, ranging from basic sciences through to clinical and community issues.

Textbook

• Pediatric orofacial medicine and pathology. Hall RK (1994). First edition. Chapman and Hall Medical (London)

Research papers, clinical reports and reviews

1.   Molar/Incisor Hypomineralisation

• Aetiology of molar-incisor hypomineralization: a critical review. Crombie F, Manton D, Kilpatrick N Int. J. Paediatr. Dent. (2009) 19:73-83 (PMID: 19250392)
• Clinical studies on molar-incisor-hypomineralisation part 1: distribution and putative associations. Chawla N, Messer LB, Silva M Eur. Arch. Paediatr. Dent. (2008) 9:180-90 (PMID: 19054471)
• Clinical studies on molar-incisor-hypomineralisation part 2: development of a severity index. Chawla N, Messer LB, Silva M Eur. Arch. Paediatr. Dent. (2008) 9:191-9 (PMID: 19054472)
• Transmission electron microscope characterisation of molar-incisor-hypomineralisation. Xie Z, Kilpatrick NM, Swain MV, Munroe PR, Hoffman M J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Med. (2008) 19:3187-92 (PMID:18438701)
• Molar incisor hypomineralization: a survey of members of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry. Crombie FA, Manton DJ, Weerheijm KL, Kilpatrick NM. Aust Dent J. (2008) 53:160-6. (PMID:18494972)
• On the structure-property relationship of sound and hypomineralized enamel. Xie ZH, Mahoney EK, Kilpatrick NM, Swain MV, Hoffman M. Acta Biomater. (2007) 3:865-72. (PMID:17638598)
• Molar incisor hypomineralization: review and recommendations for clinical management. William V, Messer LB, Burrow MF. Pediatr Dent. (2006) 28:224-32. (PMID:16805354)
• Microshear bond strength of resin composite to teeth affected by molar hypomineralization using 2 adhesive systems. William V, Burrow MF, Palamara JE, Messer LB. Pediatr Dent. (2006) 28:233-41. (PMID:16805355)
• Mechanical properties across hypomineralized/hypoplastic enamel of first permanent molar teeth. Mahoney E, Ismail FS, Kilpatrick N, Swain M. Eur J Oral Sci. (2004) 112:497-502. (PMID:15560832)
• Mechanical properties and microstructure of hypomineralised enamel of permanent teeth. Mahoney EK, Rohanizadeh R, Ismail FS, Kilpatrick NM, Swain MV. Biomaterials. (2004) 25:5091-100. (PMID:15109872)

2.   Dental fluorosis

• Aesthetic management of severely fluorosed incisors in an adolescent female. Ng F, Manton DJ. Aust Dent J. (2007) 52:243-8. (PMID:17969294)
• Dental caries and fluorosis in breast-fed and bottle-fed children. Walton JL, Messer LB. Caries Res. (1981) 15:124-37. (PMID:6937260)
• Fluorosis and caries experience following early post-natal fluoride supplementation: a report of 19 cases. Messer LB, Walton JL. Pediatr Dent. (1980) 2:267-74. (PMID:6941002)

3.   Amelogenesis imperfecta

4.   Other Developmental Dental Defects

• Solitary median maxillary central incisor syndrome occurring together with oromandibular-limb hypogenesis syndrome type 1: a case report of this previously unreported combination of syndromes. Lertsirivorakul J, Hall RK Int. J. Paediatr. Dent. (2008) 18:306-11 (PMID:18328045)
• Solitary median maxillary central incisor (SMMCI) syndrome. Hall RK. Orphanet J Rare Dis. (2006) 1:12. (PMID:16722608)
• Odontoblast dysfunction in osteogenesis imperfecta: an LM, SEM, and ultrastructural study. Hall RK, Mani￨re MC, Palamara J, Hemmerl￩ J. Connect Tissue Res. (2002) 43:401-5. (PMID:12489189)
• Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF 1)--cranio-maxillofacial and oral features.Hall RK. Ann R Australas Coll Dent Surg. (2002) 16:139-40. (PMID:14507160)
• SHH mutation is associated with solitary median maxillary central incisor: a study of 13 patients and review of the literature. Nanni L, Ming JE, Du Y, Hall RK, Aldred M, Bankier A, Muenke M. Am J Med Genet. (2001) 102:1-10. (PMID:11471164)
• Bilateral congenitally missing maxillary canines. A case report. Leong P, Calache H. Aust Dent J. (1999) 44:279-82. (PMID:10687238)
• Solitary median maxillary central incisor, short stature, choanal atresia/midnasal stenosis (SMMCI) syndrome. Hall RK, Bankier A, Aldred MJ, Kan K, Lucas JO, Perks AG. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. (1997) 84:651-62. (PMID:9431535)
• Mucopolysaccharidosis: MPS VI and associated delayed tooth eruption. Smith KS, Hallett KB, Hall RK, Wardrop RW, Firth N. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. (1995) 24:176-80. (PMID:7608587)
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia and enamel hypoplasia: case report. Hallett KB, Hall RK. Pediatr Dent. (1995) 17:54-9. (PMID:7899104)
• Late development of supernumerary teeth: a report of two cases. Chadwick SM, Kilpatrick NM. Int J Paediatr Dent. (1993) 3:205-10. (PMID:8142324)
• Prevalence of developmental defects of tooth enamel (DDE) in a pediatric hospital department of dentistry population (1). Hall RK. Adv Dent Res. (1989) 3:114-9. (PMID:2640422)
• Congenitally missing teeth--a diagnostic feature in many syndromes of the head and neck. Hall RK. J Int Assoc Dent Child. (1983) 14:69-75. (PMID:6586857)
• Combined surgical and orthodontic management of the oral abnormalities in children with cleidocranial dysplasia. Hall RK, Hyland AL. Int J Oral Surg. (1978) 7:267-73. (PMID:100437)

5. Enamel cell biology

• Towards second-generation proteome analysis of murine enamel-forming cells. Mangum JE, Veith PD, Reynolds EC, Hubbard MJ. Eur J Oral Sci. (2006) (PMID:16674695)
• Calbindin independence of calcium transport in developing teeth contradicts the calcium ferry dogma. Turnbull CI, Looi K, Mangum JE, Meyer M, Sayer RJ, Hubbard MJ. J Biol Chem. (2004) 279:55850-4. (PMID:15494408)
• Proteomic analysis of dental tissues. Hubbard MJ, Kon JC. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. (2002) 771:211-20. (PMID:12016000)
• ToothPrint, a proteomic database for dental tissues. Hubbard MJ, Faught MJ, Carlisle BH, Stockwell PA. Proteomics. (2001) 1:132-5. (PMID:11680893)
• Calcium transport across the dental enamel epithelium. Hubbard MJ. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. (2000) 11:437-66. (PMID:11132765)
• Proteomic analysis of enamel cells from developing rat teeth: big returns from a small tissue. Hubbard MJ. Electrophoresis. (1998) 19:1891-900. (PMID:9740049)
• Enamel cell biology. Towards a comprehensive biochemical understanding. Hubbard MJ. Connect Tissue Res. (1998) 38:17-32. (PMID:11063013)
• Abundant calcium homeostasis machinery in rat dental enamel cells. Up-regulation of calcium store proteins during enamel mineralization implicates the endoplasmic reticulum in calcium transcytosis. Hubbard MJ. Eur J Biochem. (1996) 239:611-23. (PMID:8774704)
• Calbindin28kDa and calmodulin are hyperabundant in rat dental enamel cells. Identification of the protein phosphatase calcineurin as a principal calmodulin target and of a secretion-related role for calbindin28kDa. Hubbard MJ. Eur J Biochem. (1995) 230:68-79. (PMID:7601126)
• Scanning electron microscopy of trypsin-treated enamel from fluorosed rat molars. Kardos TB, Hunter AR, Hubbard MJ. Adv Dent Res. (1989) 3:183-7. (PMID:2640429)

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