INTRODUCTION: Disturbances in odontogenesis generate dental anomalies with diagnostic and therapeutic relevance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to do the systemic review about pearl enamel, and discuss their formation process and its significance in clinical dentistry. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Three electronic databases (Pubmed, Cochrane and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde) were used to retrieve scientific articles in the last 30 years, using the descriptor enamel pearls. RESULT: Brazil occupies a prominent position in existing thematic publications (18%). Etiopathogenesis of this dental anomaly remains obscure, and more researches are needed regarding factors involved in ectopic amelogenesis and deficient cementogenesis in situ. Epidemiological data show variable frequency in the Brazilian population (0.8-8%) and in the global population (0,2-6,2%), with a higher incidence in the molars. Morphological analysis of enamel pearls shows that this shape and volume anomaly can be of two types: simple (external or internal true pearl) or compound (enamel-dentine or enamel-dentine-pulp). It is important the clinical and imaginological differential diagnosis of enamel pearls to allow adequate dental treatment that include enameloplasty as an effective conduct to minimize oral biofilm accumulation and worsening of periodontal disease. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to publish detailed researches about enamel pearls in order to generate scientific evidence in dental practice.
Dental enamel; odontogenesis; tooth abnormalities