Tetracycline: a cure all?

Tetracyclines are used to treat a range of oral conditions. Their efficacy in the treatment of periodontitis is well established, and they are authoritatively recommended in the management of avulsed teeth. There is a growing evidence base to support the use of tetracycline to treat recurrent aphthous stomatitis, but its use in white spongy naevus is limited to a handful of case reports. The mechanism of action in these conditions is either unknown or indicated to be through the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). The use of a single agent to treat diverse oral conditions has important implications for oral medicine.