title: Root discolouration following short-term application of steroid medicaments containing clindamycin, doxycycline or demeclocycline.
abstract: Discolouration of teeth following application of intra-canal antibiotic pastes is a clinical concern. This laboratory study compared the extent of tooth discolouration from three antibiotic pastes over 4 weeks. A total of 120 root samples were prepared and the canals filled with either Ledermix (demeclocyline), Odontopaste (clindamycin) or DoxyPaste (doxycycline). Roots were photographed before and 2 or 4 weeks after incubation at 37°C and 100% humidity in complete darkness in opaque containers. Digital images were standardised and assessed for changes in luminosity. Ledermix paste caused the most discolouration of the three, at both 2 and 4 weeks. There was no significant difference between DoxyPaste and Odontopaste at 2 weeks, whereas at 4 weeks, DoxyPaste caused a greater decrease in luminosity (P < 0.05), darkening more over the second 2-week interval than treatment with Odontopaste (P < 0.05). Under zero light conditions, staining with Ledermix can still occur; indicating non-light-based chemical reactions in the staining process. Doxycycline containing intra-canal medicaments caused less staining despite being a tetracycline-based medicament.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry and Oral Health, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Belinda Kuan-Jung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Laurence James
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003707:Demeclocycline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000209:etiology*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin; D003707:Demeclocycline; D004318:Doxycycline