摘要在牙根发育过程中，上皮根鞘精密调控着牙根的形态和结构。上皮根鞘在时间或空间上若受到干扰，可导致其增殖过度或增殖不全，进而引发牙根发育异常并伴随髓腔形态改变。牛牙症即为上皮根鞘增殖不全所致牙根及髓腔形态异常的一种典型表现。目前，临床医师对牛牙症的发生机制、解剖学特征及临床表现尚存在认知不足与概念混淆，不利于准确评估这类患牙的根管治疗难度和合理设计治疗方案。本文以上皮根鞘在牙根发育中的作用为切入点，重点梳理牛牙症形成的机制，回溯其命名及分型，追踪其研究进展，从而解析该疾病的临床特点并提出根管治疗的应对策略，以期加深临床医师对此类牙根发育异常的全面认识，提高临床治疗水平。

abstractsHertwig′s epithelial root sheath precisely regulates the morphology and structure of tooth roots. During root development, interference in the spatiotemporal development of the Hertwig′s epithelial root sheath can lead to excessive or defective proliferation, subsequently causing morphological variations of root and pulp cavity. Taurodontism is a characteristic manifestation resulting from defective Hertwig′s epithelial root sheath proliferation, presenting with abnormal root and pulp morphology. Currently, clinicians have an incomplete understanding and conceptual confusion regarding its pathogenesis, anatomical features, and clinical manifestations, which hinders accurate root canal therapy difficulty assessment and optimal treatment planning. This article, taking the role of the epithelial root sheath in root development as its starting point, systematically reviews the mechanisms of taurodontism formation, nomenclature, classification, and research progress. It further analyzes its clinical characteristics, and proposes strategies for root canal therapy. The aim is to enhance clinicians′ comprehensive understandings of this root developmental anomaly, thereby improving the success rates of clinical treatments.