Yellow and Fluorescent Lines in the Crown of First Premolar Teeth in Relation to the Production of Tetracycline Antibiotics

Abstract

To study yellow and fluorescent lines induced by tetracycline antibiotics, 124 clinically sound first premolars extracted from 60 orthodontic patients born in 1961-1968, were examined. Serial ground sections were prepared and observed by light and fluorescent microscopy. The relation between the occurrence of lines and the yearly production and use of tetracycline antibiotics as published by the National Institute of Health of Japan was investigated.
1. In the dentin, the occurrence of yellow and fluorescent lines in the 60 subjects were 35 (58.3%) and 52 (86.7%), and the mean number of yellow and fluorescent lines per tooth were 2.22 and 5.92, respectively.
2. In the enamel, the occurrence of fluorescent line in the subjects was 20 (33.3%) and the mean number per tooth was 0.75, but yellow line was not found.
3. The crown caltification period of first premolars was the period when the production of tetracycline antibiotics increased rapidly from 25 to 100 tons.
From these findings, it was assumed that the teeth which calcified in the period from second half of 1960s to the first half of 1970s in Japan have a high occurrence of yellow and fluorescent lines.