Tetracyclines can react with enamel and dentin to form relatively insoluble fluorescent compounds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible antimicrobial effect of these reaction products on various microorganisms associated with human dental plaque and periodontal disease. Slabs of native dentin and enamel as well as demineralized dentin were immersed in aqueous solutions of tetracycline HCl, oxytetracycline HCl and doxycycline HCl for periods of 1 h or 24 h. Unimpregnated enamel and dentin slabs sterilized by gamma irradiation and specimens impregnated with phenoxymethylpenicillin calcium were used as controls. Test and control specimens were placed on agar plates seeded with B. cereus, C. ochraceus, S. sanguis, F. nucleatum, B. melaninogenicus or A. viscosus and were subsequently incubated aerobically or anaerobically at 37 degrees C. With the exception of enamel impregnated for 1 h in a 0.01 mg/ml tetracycline solution, all test specimens caused growth inhibition zones, varying in size according to concentration of the drug, immersion period and bacterial species. The results indicate that tetracyclines react with enamel and dentin to form slightly soluble compounds with a pronounced antibacterial effect. In comparison, the antimicrobial effect of dentin treated with penicillin was small.