Test your diagnostic skills with this medical image challenge!

A 12-year-old presents with brown-stained, brittle enamel.

Can you diagnose the condition and determine the cause?

Case Presentation

A 12-year-old child is brought to the dental clinic by their parents due to concerns about progressive discoloration of teeth. The parents report that the child’s permanent teeth have developed brown stains over the past few years. They recently moved from a rural area where the primary water source was a local well. The child denies any pain but reports that some teeth feel rough and brittle. A dental examination reveals patchy enamel discoloration, surface pitting, and signs of brittleness.

What is your diagnosis?

Questions to Consider:

1️⃣ What environmental factors might contribute to this condition?
2️⃣ How does the underlying pathophysiology lead to the observed enamel changes?
3️⃣ What are the long-term dental and systemic complications of this condition?
4️⃣ How would you differentiate this condition from other causes of enamel defects, such as hypoplasia or tetracycline staining?
5️⃣ What preventive measures and treatment options are available?

Educational Insights:

✅ This condition is endemic in areas with high levels of a certain element in drinking water.
✅ It primarily affects developing teeth and results in permanent enamel defects.
✅ Early intervention and prevention strategies can reduce the severity of this condition in at-risk populations.

Think you know the answer? Drop your diagnosis and reasoning in the comments!

You can check the response here