Risk of Dental Discoloration and Enamel Dysplasia in Children Exposed to Tetracycline and Its Derivatives

To examine the risk of dental abnormalities after exposure to tetracycline and its derivatives (TCs) in Korean children. Children aged 0-17 years with a claim for prescriptions of TCs between 2002 and 2015 were identified from the Sample Research Database 2.0 of the National Health Insurance Service. Children not exposed to TCs were selected as the control group by matching sex and age (1:4). Cumulative incidence rate and relative risk of dental abnormalities after TCs exposure were investigated. The 10-year cumulative incidence rate in the 0-12 years group was 3.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.3-3.9]. The 10-year cumulative incidence rates were 7.0%, 1.9%, and 1.6% in the 0-7, 8-12, and 13-17 years age groups (95% CI: 4.7-9.3, 1.2-2.6, and 1.3-1.9, respectively). There was no significant difference in the risk of dental abnormalities according to TC exposure among the age groups of 0-7 years [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR)=1.0], 8-12 years (aHR=1.1), and 13-17 years (aHR=1.2). Short-term exposure to TCs does not appear to increase the risk of dental abnormalities in children aged 0-7 and 0-12 years. Restrictions on the use of TCs in children aged 8-12 years, in some countries, may warrant consideration.