ABSTRACT
Tetracycline broad-spectrum antibiotics were introduced in 1948 and quickly found favor in the treatment of a multitude of commonly occurring childhood and adult infections. The management of tetracycline-discolored teeth poses a number of problems. The inherent difficulties of using laminate veneers to mask tetracycline discoloration as previously outlined have led many to abandon their use in all but the mildest cases and opt for full-coverage restorations. Indirect laminate veneers are one of the most commonly used ways of treating tetracycline-discolored teeth by restorative means. Indeed, a legal precedent was set in 1982 when tetracycline was alleged to have caused discoloration of the teeth of two children with an ensuing, successful, legal action being brought against the prescribing general medical practitioner. Minocycline hydrochloride, a semisynthetic derivative of tetracycline often used for the treatment of acne, has been shown to cause pigmentation of a variety of tissues including skin, thyroid, nails, sclera, teeth, conjunctiva, and bone.
