Incorporation of Tetracycline in Developing Dog Enamel and Dentin

¹ Department of Pedodontics, University of Washington School of Dentistry, Seattle, Washington

The purpose of the study was to confirm or deny the presence of tetracycline in the enamel of dogs' teeth which, during the period of amelogenesis, had been exposed to tetracycline. The enamel was obtained from dogs that had been dosed daily with tetracycline from weaning ( at 2 months) to sacrifice at 5 months. The dogs' teeth were powdered and the enamel separated from the dentin by flotation. A spectrophotometric

analysis was made of the enamel, with untreated enamel as a control, and the presence of tetracycline demonstrated. The presence of tetracycline in the dentin was also confirmed. Enamel hypoplasia was observed in the teeth of the animals who received the tetracycline.