Pitted enamel hypoplasia in tuberous sclerosis

Thirty patients with tuberous sclerosis (from 29 different families) were examined for evidence of macroscopically visible pitted enamel hypoplasia. Of 23 patients with permanent teeth, 11 (48%) showed multiple enamel pits (mean 4.6 pits, range 3-9), but none were seen in six patients with deciduous teeth. Five of 563 controls (0.88%) had similar pitted enamel hypoplasia. Simple dental examination may be a useful adjunct in the assessment of patients with permanent teeth when a diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis is being considered, but is less likely to be helpful in the pre-school child.