DEVELOPMENTALLY DEFECTIVE ENAMEL AND DENTINE

STAINS DURING ODONTOGENESIS

(PRE-ERUPTIVE)

These alter the development and appearance of the enamel and dentine on permanen t teeth.

DEVELOPMENTALLY DEFECTIVE ENAMEL AND DENTINE 

Defects of enamel development can be caused by, for example, amelogenesis imperfecta (Figure 1.3), den tinogenesis i 111 perfecta (Figure 1.4) and enamel hypoplasia. The defects in enamel are either hypocalcific or hypoplastic (Rotstein 1998). Enamel hypocalcification is a distinct brownish or whitish area found on the buccal aspects of teeth (see Figure 1.5). The enamel is well formed and the surface is intact. Many of these white and brown discolorations can be removed with bleaching in combination with microabrasion (see Chapter 10). Enamel hypoplasia is developmentally defective
enamel. The surface of the tooth is defective and porous and may be readily discoloured by materials in the oral cavi ty. Depending on the severity and extent of the dysplasia, the enamel surface may be bleached with varying degrees of success.