Clifton O. Dummett

The relationship of facial skin complexion to oral mucosa pigmentation and tooth color

R eliable information about pigmented oral mucosa was not easily available at the beginning of the twentieth century.’ Dental textbooks described the color of normal gingivae as “coral pink,” and implied that any deviation was either abnormal or pathologic. In contemporary textbooks, increased space has been devoted to oral mucosa pigmentations.“. ’ Investigations were conducted to procure quantitative and qualitative information about pigmentations of both healthy and diseased oral mucosa J-6

Systemic Significance of Oral Pigmentation and Discoloration

In many patients what appears to be discoloration or a pigmented area in the oral tissues often is only a normal color variation, a food or tobacco stain, or embedded dental amalgam. However, color changes in the mouth can also signify serious systemic illnesses and can be the first evidence of heavy metal poisoning.