All the following can be an explanation for the yellow color of the dentin EXCEPT which?

• A. Dental caries
• B. Amelogenesis imperfecta
• C. Dentinogenesis imperfecta
• D. Tetracycline antibiotic during tooth development

Answer: (B)

Dentin color changes come from processes inside the dentin or from pigments deposited in dentin during development. Dentinogenesis imperfecta directly affects dentin formation, giving dentin a yellowish to opalescent hue. Tetracycline exposure during tooth development becomes incorporated into dentin and produces intrinsic yellow to brown discoloration. Caries can alter dentin color as the tissue demineralizes and pigments accumulate, often yielding a yellowish tint. Amelogenesis imperfecta, on the other hand, is a defect of enamel formation; it changes enamel color and structure but does not alter the dentin itself. So enamel defects do not explain the yellow color of dentin.