Multifocal odontoblastic dysplasia in a dog

A two-year-old Boerboel dog presented for a discolored left maxillary canine tooth. Dental radiographs revealed abnormally mineralized pulp within the discolored tooth. Similar radiographic findings were also seen in both maxillary third incisor teeth and in the remaining canine teeth to varying degrees. The discolored tooth was treated by surgical extraction and histopathology revealed abnormal dentin deposition within the canal indicative of dentin dysplasia. Although not previously documented in the dog, the pulpal changes in multiple teeth of the dog reported here were similar to those described for odontoblastic dysplasia in humans. This case report includes a review of developmental abnormalities of dentin in humans and pulpal response to inflammation and injury.