title: Tetracycline: a cure all?
abstract: Tetracyclines are used to treat a range of oral conditions. Their efficacy in the treatment of periodontitis is well established, and they are authoritatively recommended in the management of avulsed teeth. There is a growing evidence base to support the use of tetracycline to treat recurrent aphthous stomatitis, but its use in white spongy naevus is limited to a handful of case reports. The mechanism of action in these conditions is either unknown or indicated to be through the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). The use of a single agent to treat diverse oral conditions has important implications for oral medicine.
authors.affiliation: Barnet & Chase Farm Hospital, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ridgeway, Enfield Middlesex, EN2 8JL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: robertkennedy@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Barnet & Chase Farm Hospital, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ridgeway, Enfield Middlesex, EN2 8JL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mustansir.alibhai@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Mustansir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alibhai
authors.affiliation: Barnet & Chase Farm Hospital, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ridgeway, Enfield Middlesex, EN2 8JL, United Kingdom. Electronic address: k.shakib@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Kaveh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shakib
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000188:drug therapy; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014084:Tooth Avulsion / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D013752:Tetracycline
keywords: Dental trauma; Periodontitis; Recurrent aphthous stomatitis; Tetracycline; Vesiculobullous; White spongy naevus