Green pigmentation on both deciduous and permanent dentition of a biliary atresia patient: A case report

Abstract

Biliary atresia is a rare disease, and it is defined as partial or total absence of the biliary tract. If not treated, this disease may cause death within 5 years. Treatment methods for biliary atresia include conservative methods and surgical methods, such as a Kasai operation or/ and liver transplantation. Oral symptoms associated with biliary atresia are green pigmented teeth, enamel hypoplasia, rampant caries, enlargement of the pulp chamber and root canals, and delayed eruption of teeth. Among these symptoms, green pigmentation of teeth is the most significant and unesthetic complication affecting a child`s social psychology. The majority of case reports about green pigmented teeth caused by biliary atresia showed that it affected the deciduous dentition rather than the permanent dentition. This case report describes the dental management of a patient with biliary atresia, who had undergone liver transplantation at age two years, and presented with green pigmentation in both deciduous and permanent dentition.