Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

At what age is tetracycline not recommended for children?

1. 5 years old

2. 6 years old

3. 7 years old

4. 8 years old

The correct answer is: 7 years old

Tetracycline is not recommended for children under the age of 8 years because it can cause permanent discoloration of the teeth and affect their development. The antibiotics in the tetracycline family bind to calcium ions and can become incorporated into the developing enamel of the teeth. This results in the formation of brown or gray teeth, often referred to as tetracycline staining, which is irreversible. The critical period for this adverse effect is primarily during the time when the teeth are developing, which is typically until around 8 years of age. After this age, the risk of dental staining from tetracycline use significantly decreases because the vast majority of permanent teeth would have already developed. Therefore, 8 years old is considered the cutoff age for safely prescribing tetracycline to children, making it the most appropriate answer.