The in Vitro Production of a "Yellow-Brown Melanin-Like Pigment" in the Organic Matrix of Noncarious Human Tooth Crowns By Methylglyoxal (Pyruvic Aldehyde) and Acetol (Acetyl Carbinol)

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Abstract
In an attempt to determine the origin of the yellow-brown pigment characteristic of the carious lesion, decalcified noncarious tooth crowns and parts of crowns were exposed to the action of methylgloyoxal and acetol for 72 hrs. at 37[degree]C. A pigmentation varying in color from yellow to brown was produced which followed the organic pathways of the tooth and which resembled the pigment found in carious teeth in color, insolubility in saliva, apparent formation in situ, and chem. composition. The pigment formed by the interaction of the organic elements of the enamel and dentin with two of the carbonyl-containing products of carbohydrate degradation, appears to be identical with that found in the naturally occurring carious lesions. These findings lend support to the acid decalci-fication theory of the mechanism of dental caries.