[Dental Health] Tetracycline-stained teeth cannot be cured completely? Different treatment methods are available depending on the severity!
Many people suffer from tooth staining due to dietary habits or poor cleaning, but these stains usually only remain on the tooth surface and can be removed by general teeth whitening methods. However, some people have stains that are deposited inside the teeth and are difficult to remove; these patients may have "tetracycline teeth." So how do tetracycline teeth form? And are there any ways to improve them? This article will explain it all!
What are tetracycline-stained teeth?
Tetracycline, also known as tetracycline, is an antibiotic that is currently mainly used to treat bacterial infections of acne, respiratory tract, sinus, and urinary tract. It is available in oral and topical forms.
Tetracycline staining occurs when tetracycline, after being taken, binds with calcium, which is essential for tooth development, causing teeth to become gray and yellow. The tetracycline pigment mainly accumulates on the dentin of the tooth surface, causing discoloration.
Mild tetracycline staining will result in a light yellow or light gray tooth surface with a uniform color distribution and no banded staining; moderate tetracycline staining will result in a brownish-yellow or blackish-gray tooth surface, but no banded staining has yet appeared; severe tetracycline staining will also result in a dark yellow, dark gray, or dark black tooth surface, but with obvious banded staining.
Is tetracycline-stained teeth permanently discolored?
Tetracycline staining is permanent. It mainly occurs when children ingest excessive amounts of tetracycline during tooth development, leading to discoloration and enamel calcification in both primary and permanent teeth.
If children under 8 years old take medications containing tetracycline, and the total dose exceeds 3 grams or the medication is used for more than 10 days, tetracycline can accumulate in teeth that are still forming, causing significant discoloration of the children's teeth.
If a pregnant woman takes tetracycline, the tooth germ calcification begins in the mother's body. Therefore, when a pregnant woman takes tetracycline, it will be absorbed by the child's tooth germ and accumulate in the dental enamel, which may permanently stain the child's teeth brown or gray.
In addition to staining, it may also alter the shape and composition of teeth, damaging their structure.
Can tetracycline-stained teeth be treated with everyday whitening methods?
Tooth staining caused by external factors such as diet can be removed by common teeth whitening methods to remove the stains from the outer enamel layer of the teeth.
However, the staining of teeth caused by tetracycline is not limited to the tooth surface; the dentin inside the tooth turns gray and yellow, which is difficult to completely remove using common teeth whitening methods.
What is the best treatment for tetracycline-stained teeth?
The treatment for tetracycline-stained teeth varies depending on the degree of staining. Before treatment, the dentist will first diagnose the patient's teeth and then proceed with the following treatments based on the severity of the staining:
(1) Teeth whitening/bleaching
Suitable for mildly stained tetracycline-stained teeth. The dentist will apply the whitening agent to the tooth surface and then use a light to catalyze the whitening effect. However, to maintain the whitening effect, the teeth need to be whitened again every few years.
(2) Dental veneers
Suitable for mild to moderate tetracycline-stained teeth. The dentist will apply the ceramic veneer to the outer layer of the tooth. To allow enough space for the veneer, the tooth needs to be ground down, which can have some impact on dental health.
(3) All-ceramic crowns
Suitable for severely stained tetracycline teeth. The dentist will place a ceramic overlay over the teeth to cover the severely stained or damaged tetracycline teeth.
To prevent tetracycline from affecting teeth and its color and appearance, pregnant women and children under eight years old are advised to avoid taking tetracycline as much as possible.
Author: Dr. Eric Chan
