Restorative & Materials · patient case question
How would you treat a patient with tetracycline staining?
Patient case: Radiographic interpretation, discoloration and denture assessment
Scenario: Five items.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Veneers
- A. Microabrasion removes only the outermost enamel and is effective for superficial fluorosis-type defects, not for deep dentinal staining.
- B. Root canal treatment addresses discoloration caused by pulpal necrosis in a single tooth, which is a different problem entirely.
- C. Correct. Tetracycline staining is intrinsic and distributed throughout the dentine, so it cannot be removed. Veneers mask it — and for severe banded discoloration, full-coverage crowns may be needed.
- D. Bleaching can lighten mild cases, but severe banded tetracycline staining responds poorly and often unevenly.
Note: The staining arises when tetracycline is taken during odontogenesis — it chelates calcium and is incorporated into the mineralising tissue, which is why the drug is avoided in pregnancy and in children under 8.
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