Louie T. Austin

A characteristic dental finding in acrosclerosis and diffuse scleroderma

Abstract A characteristic change has been observed in the dental roentgenograms of patients suffering from acrosclerosis and diffuse scleroderma, in which the prominent feature is a widening of the periodontal space. This widening of the space apparently occurs most often in association with acrosclerosis although it also may be present with diffuse scleroderma. Microscopic examination of one specimen revealed that the enlarged periodontal space is occupied by a markedly thickened periodontal membrane. Thickening of the vessel walls suggests that the change in the periodontal membrane is probably brought about by the same circulatory disturbance which is a salient feature in acrosclerosis and diffuse scleroderma.