LAUSR

Developmental defects of tooth enamel are prevalent and can origi-nate during prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal periods of tooth development (odontogenesis). Well over 100 environmental and genetic factors have been associated with developmental defects of tooth enamel. 1 Among environmental factors examined in depth are systemic exposure to fl uoride (dental fl uorosis) and polychlorinated biphenyls. 2,3 In a new study in Environmental Health Perspectives, Bui et al. followed up on their earlier investigations of endocrine-disrupting compounds (speci fi cally bisphenols) impacting tooth development. 5 – 8 Here the authors focused on developmental dis-turbances of enamel formation resulting from long-term exposures to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer that is widely present in the environment and also has endocrine-disrupting properties. 9,10 The authors ’ use of mice to study the e ff ects of endocrine disruptors during odontogenesis is a wise choice for a number of reasons, including continuous enamel formation (amelogenesis) throughout the mouse ’ s life.