Abnormal Pigmentation and Fluorescence in Canine Teeth

A case is described of a young dog showing a transient pink coloration of the permanent teeth. As this pigment, localized in the incisors and distal parts of other teeth, showed in ultra-violet light the bright red fluorescence characteristic of the porphyrins, the possible nature of the pigment is discussed in relation to various disorders of porphyrin metabolism. Other parts of the teeth showed a yellow fluorescence which was almost certainly due to previous administration of chlortetracycline, as similar fluorescence was produced in the developing permanent teeth of young dogs when given this drug.