Pfizer review: tetracycline staining of the teeth 169

I have always been ashamed of my teeth. My mother took Tetracycline while pregnant with me, unaware of any dangers. I was born in 1963 and nearly every dentist I have seen has asked me if my mother took tetracycline while pregnant with me. It bothered me to the extent that I didn't like to smile and was often criticized for it. I always admired my friends' teeth and hated seeing pictures of me with their pearly whites next to my grey, stained teeth. It looked like the lights were dimmed in my mouth while their smiles lit up their faces. I didn't think.there was anything I could do.until I became an adult and had them bonded in the 80's. This helped somewhat, but began to wear off about ten years later. I was told bleaching wouldn't help and I have hoped for capping my teeth, but can't afford it.
This issue is bothering me more lately because in the last five years or so, my teeth began to fall apart. I've had root canals, implants, and now receding gums which make my teeth look more hideous. More than cosmetically, I'm even more upset over the constant pain and dental work and exorbitant costs to pay for them. I've recently learned that tetracycline ruins tooth enamel and cartilage. I have TMJ and much more dental workto be done, and this has prompted me to research this topic because I want compensation for the dental work that can correct the damage the exposure that tetracycline has done to my teeth. Not to mention the emotional anguish it has caused. I only wished I'd pursued this much earlier and my.parents were not litigatious or assertivepeople. I'm angry and I want justice served for all of us "corncob mouths."

Just another thought about children having special legal protection. I think there is no time limit after when legal action can be taken? But Pfizer must be held accountable soon (ASAP) as most of their victims are already in their 40's/50's, so not much longer until we RIP.
Someone also said that in their defence Pfizer were unaware of adverse affects This was not accepted as an excuse with Thalidomide. Diageo has paid £160m over the last six years to fund the future needs of the thalidomiders. Grünenthal, the German manufacturer of the drug, set up a €50m (£41m) fund for 3, 000 thalidomide victims on the Continent and £80m in compensation from the U.K. Government has gone to help their thalidomiders.
Ruining children's teeth and then washing your hands of responsibility can't be right in a civilized world.

I was give tetracycline as a baby in 1968 in the U.K. This drug is responsible for crushing my confidence ( and many others in different countries) while growing up, something that Pfifer cannot ever be forgiven for. Is this not similar to the Thalidomide disaster though not as high profile as it is not considered as dibilitating. Drug companies make lots of money and some of that should be given in compensation to us guine-pigs when it goes wrong. How have they escaped this basic responsibility?

I am 51 and have been totally embarrassed by my teeth my whole life. I remember seeing my teeth at 4 and desperately hoping that my permanent teeth would be white (no such luck, they were the same, if not worse). I've never been able to afford any thing to cover the horrid stains, I've just had to deal with it for the last 48 years! I would totally be interested in a class action suit. Please let me know.

I am 45 and have the tetracycline staining. Only the veneers will work. That is cosmetic, like a face lift or liposuction.
Thousands of dollars. Bleaching does nothing, the staining is too embedded. What sucks is my teeth are perfectly straight and healthy, just a dark gray. I would love to build a convoy with fellow tetracycline victims and rock the class action lawsuit. That's just pure negligence on Pfizer's part and someone should pay. That company needs to pay all tetracycline sufferers for the full amount of veneers for every single face that could not smile growing up. ( Because of 5, 000 questions about the teeth) ! It seems very reasonable to me. I would be in shock and amazed-and ball like a baby- if I saw myself in a white smile. Only we know. Irritates me.

I have suffered at the hands of tetra staining like many others who have posted. I come from a poor family. My father was a copper miner and my mother worked odd jobs. There was little simply no money for cosmetic dentistry. I spent my entire childhood smiling with my hand over my mouth. There are few pictures of me simply because I was deeply ashamed to show my smile. In my 20's I had veneers on my upper only because I couldn't afford both top and bottom. The veneers were on for a little over 20 years and replaced once during that time. These veneers didn't really fully cover my staining, just masked it somewhat making my teeth look grey/white. It was the best option I had at the time. As a consequence of the veneers, my upper teeth sustained many cavities. You can't brush behind a veneer and any little gap is an invitation to bacteria. Recently I had all of my front 8 crowned at a great cost. Over the years I have spent over $20, 000 just on my upper teeth. I worked hard and extra jobs just to be able to afford this treatment as it meant that much to me. My dentist explained, as many have for others in this post, that my enamel is very poor due to the tetra staining. All my back teeth are crowned due to a breakdown in the tooth. My teeth have also been very sensitive all my life. As a result I have a great deal of pain during dental cleanings and any dental procedure. Due to all the dental work I have had to have over the years, I now suffer from TMJ. Tetra has stripped me of my smile, but more importantly it has caused me a life of pain.

I gave the gray/yellowish teeth due to tetracycline drug. I've just had my braces removed, and now I want that bright white smile. I cannot afford Veneers, so I will try whitening as much as it can help. I wish there was something more to do.

SAME HERE AND IM 41 AND HAVE GONE THROUGH EVERYTHING, IVE HEARD HERE

I was given tetracycline for a kidney infection when I was first pregnant for my son. It was suggested from my doctor that I should have an abortion because my son could have major birth defects. An abortion was not an option we would do. He was born with a heart defect (which he outgrew), a growth on his ear, (which we had removed), and tetracycline teeth. To this day, he is now 32, I feel the guilt for unknowingly taken this terrible drug. My son always covers his mouth when he laughs. He is very shy and this has affected him his whole life. We haven't been able to afford cosmetic dental work for him, but it has been a source of deep anger to me and my family that we didn't have some kind of recourse. Please pursue this and we are in.
hsieradzki@moneymailer.com

I have suffered from the embarrassment of tetracycline stains since I was a child. I was given the drug in 1963 after being hit by a truck and rushed to the hospital. Within the past 5 years my Vitamin D level has been severely low and, subsequently, I've been put on a very high dose of Vit-D. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the long term effects from being on tetracycline but it does spark a interest.

Silvana Leone,
It sound like you fishing for something for free.

Dear Mr. Pfizer:

After a lifetime of wondering WHO did this to me... who stopped me from smiling my whole life I came across an article that stated it was you. Well thanks a lot. I understand that money is no object to you and if your teeth looked like mine you could just pay to fix them. I do not have a bank account with hundreds of thousands of dollars sitting around. In fact your bank account is rather large in partly due to me. You profited from my parents who paid for tetracycline when I was a child. You state that there was a warning label on the bottle. Was that warning label in Italian? My parents did not read or write in English and I was only five years old, so that warning label you talk about was useless. You ruined my life. I have never smiled. In fact from a very young age I learned to cover my mouth when I laughed. I learned to talk while covering my teeth with my lips so that no one could see my teeth. . Consider this e-mail part of the petition started by Gary NorthCarolina. I am so angry at you. Thank God my children were no effected. I hope that your children and grandchildren enjoy the money you received from my lifetime of embarrassment.

Silvana Leone

I also have the tetra teeth and have been made fun of all my life.I also suffer from low self esteem.I have the same symptoms that most of you all have.I got into so many fist fights when I was younger because of people making fun of me that i turned into a hard person.This medicine has destroyed all of our lives and I feel sad for all of you.We missed out on Life for the ones that could not afford to get crowns put on at a young age.There has to be a way to get compensated for the damage this drug caused. I didnt know there was so many people out there with Tetracycline Teeth . Thanks, Pissed off for over 40 years!

I want to be counted in too! I have terribly discolored teeth that caused such low self esteem as a child and continues to make me feel embarrassed. I have dealt with weight problems, IBS, fibromyalgia, sjogrens syndrome...who knows how much of this was caused by tetracycline? I was only 2 when I was given the drug. My teeth are now brittle...one is cracking! Please let me know if anything ever comes from this! Jeannieiam@hotmail.com Thanks and God bless!

You can count me in, I had tetracycline as a child for acute asthma related disease and skin concerns. I never wanted to be photographed, In all my childhood photos I have never seen a smile on my face. At school I got teased and had numerous comments thrown my way. It affected my childhood. In my teens and has influenced my inability to be socially interactive. As an adult I am finding my teeth becoming brittle continually covering my mouth when I speak. I work in public health sector and this in itself makes me extremely self concious. More information should have been available to our parents on the long term effects of tetracycline. My confidence as a child was already low, I was adopted and always had a feeling of being differenet the effcets of tetracycline on my teeth further compounded my low self esteem and has effected my life in too many adverse ways to mention.

I brushed my teeth a-lot and hid my teeth, and felt like if someone saw my teeth they would think I did not brush them.
I have a hard time trusting my dentist(s) because I had bitten on the ad for free whitening and found out later it was for normal white tooth people.

i was born in 1959 i have the teeth thing, i don't like it. i did not know what it was from for many years i brushed the teeth too much.

my teeth have been very badly stained by Pfiizer's tetracycline . l have not felt able to smile for years because they look so discoloured. l caannot afford to have the treatment l require to rectify them . Porcelain crowns to so many teeth is so cost prohibitive. The rest of my family have lovely white teeth . It makes me so sad and angry that they refuse to acknowledge what they have done. Callous big business again !

I haven't had time to read all the threads.. We all suffer from this..Is there a post where a lawyer offered insight on this matter? Is it worth going after Pfizer? It's great to have a community to vent, but let's see if we can take action..

I was born in 1968 and I am a tetracycline baby. After 44 years, I finally am having the porcelain veneers put on my teeth because the bonding has chipped and the teeth are decaying. I did not realize there were so many people affected by this. I wish I had researched this sooner. After all the years of feeling afraid to smile and dealing with all the teasing as a kid, to find out that there was knowledge that this was the result of negligence, upsets me. It would be nice to have Pfizer pay the cost that I am incurring to try to cover their mistake.

Same here..just reading all of your quotes. I was born in 1961 and have had to deal with this all my life. My mother had to take tetracycline while pregnant with me for chronic urinary tract infections and myself having taken it for different ailments such as strep throat and other sicknesses. I had the bonding done in 1986..just the top 6 teeth..paid by me in full for working my butt off. AND, they still didn't help since mine are severely discolored. Had the bonding removed about 10 years ago...because they didn't match other teeth and needed to come off. I have always been so self concience about this. I hated smiling in my pictures. Now, I still hate to smile because when the bonding came off, didn't realize the dentist had filed some of my top teeth with the bonding and they look horrible now. Have tried whiteners and since they had been filed they are sooooo very sensitive. So, therefore, I have nerve root exposure. AND, having stomach problems all my life, makes me wonder too, about the effects of this medication that induced me to have severe stomach problems since birth. Just recently found out I have chrohns and other auto immune disorders. Yes, the tetracycline maker needs to pay all of us for pain & suffering and lack of self confidence our whole lives not being able to show our teeth without a freaking gasp if we were to really smile big showing our teeth. Recently, asked my dentist again about the veneers and it would cost way over $5, 000.00 to fix them. I do NOT have that kind of money ! The maker needs to PAY ! Sick and tired of not being able to smile. !

What more can I say. I feel all your pain as I too have GRAY teeth and have put thousands into my teeth and they still don't look good. My dentist told me mine are so gray that he had to color my already white veneers with a white coloring so my gray won't show through. I had new veneers put on by a new dentist because mine retired and forgot that information he gave me and yes the grey is shown through. I can't afford to have them redone so I'm stuck with veneers that still look grey but not as bad do to the severity of my gray teeth. A misserable childhood that I also had not smiling at anyone. Being made fun of and told to go brush my teeth by ingnorant kids. The scaring I have from my teeth will never go away even if I cover my grey teeth. That will be their for life.

Same story here. I am 50 years old and was given tetracycline and hid the smile when possible and annoyed if someone actually saw me smiling as I felt ugly with stained yellowed teeth. Look at what we promote nice white smiles and unless you can afford to spend mega dollars what choice do we have. This post has been going on for 3 years, so anyone know anything about what Pfizer is doing or will ever do?

My mother was prescribed tetracycline during pregnancy and both my older brother and me we given tetra as children. We both have yellow teeth. My younger sister and brother have beautiful white teeth, doctors were aware of the discolouring side effects by then. I was born in 1960, my older brother in 59. My sister and younger brother in 62 and 64. I have spent a life without a smile. You will never see my teeth in any photograph. My own children often comment about my yellow teeth. This product made good money for the company and shareholders. They tok a punt on a poorly understood product. They should now pay for that risk they took at our expense. Mike, Aireys Inlet, Australia.

Same story here. I'm 53 years old and remember as a teenager wanting to have white teeth so badly or just wanting NOT to have those gray teeth that were so darn ugly. I did smile, but I remember always putting my hand up to my mouth when I did. Pictures were always without a smile. When I was 44, I got 6 veneers put on, which did help, but natural white teeth look some much nicer. And who can afford a full mouth of veneers. This company owes us for the humiliation and should pay to have each and every one of us to have our teeth fixed to perfection.

I want to join a classaction suit or start one also. I live in Canada and think not only the company should pay but the government also. My email is ch.desprairiesfarmorganics@xplornet.ca. I have been suffering with the stained teeth issue for more than 40 years. I want to be compensated. I have spent too much money on veneers and suffered pain to have then done, redone and repaired each time they chip! Enough is enough. Why didn't we sue them a long time ago. I just didn't know I could and now that I do I am going to.

I too have tetra-teeth and am very ashamed of my teeth! I have tried tooth bleaching at my dentist but my teeth are so gray nothing works! I also believe insurance should pay for porcelain veneers for it is not my fault that I took the medicine and my mother was not told! That was 43 yrs ago so what am I to do now except keep my mouth shut so no one notices my teeth! Trust me if I could afford to purchase veneers I would!

I am 45 yrs old and have suffered with my teeth all my life. I cant stand to see pics of myself especially as a child as my teeth are dark grey from this drug. Someone please contact me with information on a class action lawsuit against these people. I have been told even verniers will not help that the discoloration will show through. I am now facing major dental work. I feel every ones pain that had to go through this as I myself have suffered also. I am sick of being treated like a guinea pig!

I believe that i have yellow teeth due to over intake of tetracycline as an infant and my parents terribly worry for me. Then I realized that a well-known doctor in my town prescribed me this one when i had severe fever as a kid. But am the victim finally. Everywhere in school, college people made fun of me and i used to smile covering with my hands. Sometimes i gave them a mockery counter and sometimes i replied them in confidence saying god had gifted me with golden teeth .Finally I am okay because i have put crowns but i wonder if they lasts life long. But i smile now with confidence, face people bold. All I worry now is that will this teeth discoloration affect my kids if i get married. Am worried to get married but my parents want me to. Anyone who had been in the same kinda situation please do reply me.

I was given tetracycline when I was two and was hospitalized for pneumonia. My teeth were gray by 3rd grade and the other children were merciless. Consequently, I spent my time with animals instead of people. It, quite literally, has made me into a loner to avoid questions and worse - the criticizing looks from others. Every job I have ever had has been behind the scenes, from dishwasher to ranch help to packing mules in the mountain back country for rich tourists. (I made my camp next to the stock.) I rarely ever made more than minimum wage. I have never married.
I never was a "well" child growing up. At issue always were allergies and digestive problems. At age 40 I was hospitalized for bleeding ulcers and $20, 000. Bones I broke as a teenager now give me extreme grief, as does my back (from wearing a body cast and brace). My digestive disorders today make me wake up every morning with nausea and intense vomiting; another strike against my teeth. At the relatively young age of 44, I am no longer able to work at all and have applied for disability. That might give me $500 or so per month, certainly not enough to live on. The doctors I have seen cannot identify what is the 'root' cause of my illness. No pun intended, but tetracycline sure could be the culprit of all my symptoms.
So, how do you put a price on all that pain and loneliness? Let me know how to join up and make my voice heard. Drug companies make shamefully huge profits on all their drugs and are unconcerned about what harm they can do in the long term. The markup percentages should be an embarrassment to them. Especially embarrassing should be the fact that their target patients were babies and children when the side effects were known and other drugs were available for treatment. But since companies like Pfizer are seemingly incapable of embarrassment for their actions and won't try to right their wrong by paying for dental implants for their victims, (probably be their most economical route), let us inject them with morals and take it out in dollars. Isn't that what the drug companies listen to best?

Sign me up!

All my life I have lived w/out a smile. That says it all! I hate my teeth. Growing up was so painful, I was constantly made fun of, told to go brush your teeth. It was horrible. I would love to be part of a class action suit. I have dreamed all my life of having a beautiful white smile but, can't afford it. I'm going to try to go to a lawyer.
Anyone with me.

I also know the embarrassment of having ugly teeth. i was prescribed both tetracycline and accutane. I am 45 and still single.Most find me attractive aside from my teeth.There should be some compensation.

I also know the embarrassment of living with ugly teeth I was prescribed both tetracycline and accutane. would give anything to have white teeth. There should be a lawsuit.

My mom was given tetracycline which resulted in my teeth being permantily stained. I'm not sure why there isn't a lawsuit for those whose teeth were ruined. I was born in 1966.

I was prescribed tetracycline by an E.R. doc for getting a tick borne illness called ehrlichiosis. It is several years later and I have a rare disease called pseudo-tumor cerebri which my neuro-opthamologist said is what gave it to me. I have had over 15 shunt surgeries/ placements/ revisions and will have to do so for the rest of my life. This has affected every aspect of my family life. I am partially blind and have severe headaches with nausea and vomiting. They have known since before I was born that this medicine caused this rare disease. Why then are the doctors prescribing this drug along with all of the other known and well documented side effects? What about the oath that all doctors take when they become doctors? Does it mean nothing?

I have stained teeth from tetracycline. My permanent teeth came in stained, I have never seen myself smile without feeling ugly. I wish someone would help people like me. If, whoever is responsible, could just spend one day with bad looking teeth they would understand and would help. They called me teeth in college. Help me look in the mirror and love my smile. I am 51 and ready for this sad, ugly feeling to go away.

I myself have had numerous problems after being given this drug as a child. I actually have further damage with gums and have a splint holding my teeth in place, as the same as others, I have learnt not to smile. I am 49 and have had recently visited the dentist ten times in the past year. I have been advised by my dentist to look into a 'No Win' 'No Fee' claim, I have had problems with finding a solicitor for this, on further searching and finding others experiencing the same, I feel compensation should be paid as this also has affected me in other ways, with being sensitive to light, having chest problems and breathing difficulties at times. There are numerous side affects from this drug, one being, don't smile too much when you have had one too many, or someone may snap a smile and tag you on facebook, there is nothing worse.

Mother took it whilst pregnant with me in 1981 - no warning given. I have stains on my two front teeth that get me down so much. Have tried so many whitening treatments - my dentist told me to give up, that nothing will work. It's so unfair that so many people have suffered so long with this.

I whole heartedly agree with this complaint. My teeth have embarrassed me my whole life. I have grey bands in the middle that turn to yellow at the gum line. I hate my smile. I don't like to smile. My self-confidence is almost nonexistent. I'm considered a good looking guy and friends can't understand why I'm still single with no kids. Because it looks like I have the beginnings of "meth-mouth". They can't understand why I don't feel good enough for anyone. I wish I didn't feel that a rotten looking smile doesn't matter in life, but it does. I guaranty that if Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie had tetra-teeth they wouldn't be who they are today. I've never been successful enough to afford cosmetic dentistry and I despise the thought of paying thousands and thousands of dollars for an atrocity some greedy pharmaceutical company committed against me as an innocent child. --Not to mention the thousands of others inflicted by this unwarranted, horrendous punishment.
Nothing can be done about the last 40 years of shame and disgusting looks I, and others like me, have endured but something can be done for the next forty. --By making the drug company responsible for this detrimental drug pay for their malicious and improper practices. They need to be stopped from scarring others in the future. They have cursed us with a lifetime of emotional and physical damage, but if we stand together, we can make them pay for what they've done to us.
My name is Jason S. Johns and I am a victim of tetracycline. What ever I can do for this cause please let me know--jsjohns71@yahoo.com