Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
08:12
Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants
Published on: March 29, 2018
10.6K
Penicillin Disrupts Dental Mineralization in Rats: A Comparative Study With Tetracycline Highlighting Prenatal and
Sedigheh Mozafar1, Fateme Mashhadi Abbas2, Majid Mehran1
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
Clinical and Experimental Dental Research
|September 19, 2025
Summary
Penicillin can cause dental defects in developing teeth, even at lower therapeutic doses. This study found penicillin disrupted enamel and dentin development, similar to tetracycline.
Area of Science:
- Dental Development
- Pharmacology
- Teratology
Background:
- Penicillin's potential to cause enamel defects is not well-understood.
- Previous research highlights tetracycline's adverse effects on tooth development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of penicillin on enamel and dentin development.
- To compare penicillin's effects with tetracycline in a rodent model.
Main Methods:
- Pregnant Wistar rats were administered tetracycline, penicillin (50 or 100 mg/kg), or saline during gestation and lactation.
- Pups' first molars were analyzed for thickness, maturation, and structural changes.
Main Results:
- Tetracycline and 100 mg/kg penicillin significantly reduced enamel/dentin thickness and caused dentin-enamel junction (DEJ) flattening.
- 50 mg/kg penicillin also disrupted enamel/dentin development and caused DEJ flattening, though thickness was not significantly affected.
Conclusions:
- Penicillin, even at 50 mg/kg, adversely affects dental development, similar to tetracycline.
- Clinical caution is advised when prescribing penicillin during pregnancy due to potential dental developmental disruptions.
