June 12, 2001--
Dentists are questioning whether a common antibiotic is staining children's teeth.
The concern is based on what they call a staggering increase in mottled teeth since doctors began using pediatric doses of amoxicillin more than 20 years ago.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates takes a look.
The drug of choice in treating bacterial-caused ear infections in small children is still amoxicillin. Pediatricians say about 80 percent of the kids they see every year will have the infection by age three.
But dentists say they're now seeing what could be a cosmetic side effect of the antibiotic showing up in big numbers in the front teeth of kids.
CLAIR VERNON, D.M.D., TOOELE DENTIST: "I WOULD SAY IN YOUNG CHILDREN, I AM SEEING IT IN ALMOST THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN."
Tooele dentist Dr. Clair Vernon is one of many dentists calling for more studies.
ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "WHEN LEVI HERE WAS 13 MONTHS OLD, HE HAD A ONE-TIME DOSE OF AN ANTIBIOTIC CONTAINING AMOXYCILLIN. THAT DOSE PROBABLY LASTED OVER ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME. NOW AT AGE EIGHT, LEVI HAS EVIDENCE OF MOTTLING."
"HE'S GOT SPOTS ALL OVER THE PLACE."
Mottling is discoloration in poorly formed enamel - usually the front teeth. In Levi's case, it shows up as white, cream colored or brown blotches.
"WHEN THE KIDS GET THREE, FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OF AGE, THE EAR ACHES GO AWAY AND SO THEY DON'T NEED THE AMOXCYLIN ANYMORE. SO IT'S JUST EFFECTING THE LOWER HALF OR THE LOWER ONE THIRD OF THEIR NICE TWO FRONT TEETH."
So far a dental researcher in Missouri has submitted 125 case reports to the Food and Drug Administration's Med-Watch.
In a separate 150-patient study, he's also ruled out other possible causes of the discoloration - including flouride, lead and diet.
Amoxicillin, he says, is the only common thread which links all of the kids - and it was used during the critical time when their teeth were forming - between six months and four years of age.
Dentists who have more data on mottling should contact the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs or the FDA's MedWatch program.
