The Academy of General Dentistry
New findings reveal how a tooth whitening procedure - typically not an
option for those children with tetracycline-stained teeth - can be effective
for lightening dark, intrinsic stains, with results lasting more than four
and a half years, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.
"Before this study, people with tetracycline stains were considered poor candidates
for nightguard vital bleaching," explains Ralph H. Leonard Jr., DDS, MPH, who
has spent more than 10 years researching this topic, also known as a common tooth
whitening procedure. "Until recently, crowns, veneers or internal bleaching
were patients' primary cosmetic options for alleviating stains caused by tetracycline."
Tetracycline is an antibiotic that was widely used in the past primarily
to treat ear infections in children. When the drug is taken during tooth
formation and development, it can cause dark, intrinsic discolorations
of teeth -- staining the tooth from the inside out. The teeth may be stained
various shades of yellow, gray, brown or bluish-black with horizontal bands
during the time in which the drug was taken.
Minocycline, a drug in the tetracycline family, is also capable of discoloring
teeth. Minocycline is widely used today to treat severe acne in adolescents.
Consumers, dentists and medical doctors should be aware of the possible
tooth staining effects of minocycline therapy.
Patients with tetracycline stains on the lower two-thirds of the tooth
(the biting edge) may see a better cosmetic result than those that have
stains on the upper third of the tooth, near the gum line.
Tooth bleaching is the whitening method used to treat tetracycline
stains. Stains can be lightened in many cases with extended treatment
time and with minimal side effects. "Most commonly reported side effects are tooth
sensitivity and gum irritation; both disappear soon after completion of
the whitening," says Dr. Leonard.
Patients are fitted with custom mouth tray for application of the whitening
gel. The patient will place the gel in the tray and wear the tray for four
to eight hours a day or at night until a desirable cosmetic results is
obtained. In many cases, it may be four to eight weeks for the desired
effect to occur, but it could take six or more to obtain the result, due
to extensive staining.
"This whitening method shows that tetracycline-stained teeth can be whitened
successfully," reports Dr. Leonard. "Patients who participated in the study
were overwhelmingly positive about the results, were glad they had participated
in the study and would recommend the procedure to others."
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