INBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Ace your INBDE with our comprehensive practice exam. Featuring detailed explanations, interactive flashcards, and a wide array of multiple-choice questions designed to mirror the real test. Get ready to surpass your expectations!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Tetracycline affects what layer of the tooth?

Dentin
Enamel
Pulp
Cementum

The correct answer is: Dentin

Tetracycline, a type of antibiotic, affects the dentin layer of the tooth. Dentin is the hard tissue beneath the enamel which forms the majority of the tooth's structure. When a person takes tetracycline antibiotics, especially during tooth development, it can lead to discoloration of the dentin layer, resulting in a characteristic yellow or gray-brown color of the teeth. This discoloration is due to the incorporation of tetracycline into the dentin matrix as the tooth develops, affecting its appearance. Therefore, the correct answer is dentin. Enamel is the outer layer of the tooth that protects it from wear and decay, while pulp is the innermost part of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. Cementum is a specialized calcified substance covering the root of the tooth. These layers are not directly affected by tetracycline as it primarily impacts the dentin layer.