Tetracycline antibiotics, used during tooth development, bind to calcium ions, leading to internal (internal) discoloration in the dentin layer in the form of dark gray, brown, or horizontal bands. These stains are highly resistant to standard chemical bleaching treatments applied to the outer surface of the tooth, and sometimes even combined bleaching sessions lasting months may only lighten by a few shades. In tetracycline cases where precise and high aesthetic success is desired, porcelain laminate veneers with a highly translucent but opaque substructure capable of masking the underlying dark color, or zirconium-supported all-ceramic crowns in cases requiring slightly more tooth tissue removal, are preferred to completely mask the internal stain.
