[vc_row][vc_column width=\”1/1\”][vc_column_text]
How does tetracycline cause teeth discoloration?
For over three decades, the antibiotic tetracycline has been on the market. It is used to treat a wide variety of different infections, but the problem with this antibiotic is that it causes a great deal of staining in the teeth. This tetracycline teeth discoloration has a number of adverse affects to patients. The yellow, gray, or brown staining that it causes on your smile can cause a severe dip in confidence, which can affect many areas of your life.
The Science Behind Tetracycline Teeth Discoloration
How severe the tetracycline teeth discoloration gets is heavily influenced by the dosage, or amount that you take. It is also affected by the length of treatment with the antibiotic as well as how much calcification has occurred in the teeth. If it’s introduced to the teeth early on, tetracycline can bond to the calcium in the teeth. In cases where this happens before the teeth come in, the teeth will appear yellow, changing to a brown with increased exposure to light.
Why are only certain ages affected?
Only certain ages are affected by tetracycline teeth discoloration because it needs to bond to the calcium in order to stick. This means that mainly children are affected by the staining of this antibiotic. However, pregnant women should note that taking the antibiotic will affect the baby in utero. Even though the baby’s teeth will not develop for a while, tetracycline can bond to the calcium of the teeth very early on and cause staining later.
What can I do about tetracycline teeth stains?
Unfortunately, once tetracycline teeth discoloration sets in, regular dental care won’t do anything to correct it. Luckily there are options in cosmetic dentistry! With lighter staining, simple teeth bleaching and whitening procedures can correct the discoloration. If the stains are too deep, though, the bleaching won’t be able to reach below the surface. To remove deep stains, crowns and dental implants are the best bet. This is because crowns hide the stains by covering them while dental implants replace the tooth completely.
Curious? Dr. Amanda Canto is always ready to answer any questions you might have. Come in to our Galleria-area office, and she’ll be able to recommend the best treatment for your tetracycline teeth discoloration. Call or contact us for a free consultation now!
More Information About Tetracycline Teeth Discoloration
U.S. National Library of Medicine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15485524[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]