Various factors can cause defects of enamel during formation, affecting the quantity of the enamel “hypoplasia where the enamel has normal hardness but defective”;or the quality of the enamel “hypocalsification where the enamel is softer than normal”

Enviromental Factors

Environmental defects starts during enamel formation. Cells are susceptible to external factors like “Trauma”or “Local abscess”; this can cause defects in the shape or color of the enamel. These factors that occur locally, can affect a single tooth or multiple teeth.

Systemic Factors

Systemic factors usually have an effect on developing permanent teeth, if it occurs after birth and before six years of age. These factors could be a”Systemic Infection”,”Congenital Syphilis (hutchinson’s incisors and first molars)”, “Malnutrition”or”Fluoride” which cause fluorosis in areas where drinking water contains excessive fluoride, teeth might have white spots to brown in some cases and white discoloration.

What is Amelogenesis Imperfecta?

Amelogenesis Imperfecta is a hereditary disorder categorized in the following types:

• Hypoplastic Amelogenesis Imperfecta: In this type teeth erupt with insufficient amount of enamel ranging from small grooves in some cases to a complete absence in other cases.
• Hypocalsified Amelogenesis Imperfecta: In this type the quantity of enamel is normal, but the enamel is soft and weak, teeth tend to wear and chip easily, color range from white to brown.

Treatment

No treatment is necessary other than restoring the teeth, teeth usually are not caries prone.