My dentist hit my tooth hard, and now it’s turning gray

My tooth is turning gray because my dentist injured it while removing by lingual braces. She apologized many times and took an x-ray. The said the x-ray was fine. But now my tooth is turning gray. My dentist referred me to an endodontist who did a sensitivity test on my tooth and tooth x-rays. Then the endodontist said that I need root canal treatment because the tooth is dying. He uses something called Gentle Wave.

I did not schedule an appointment for the procedure yet because I am concerned about how the tooth will look afterward. Is root canal the only resolution?  Is it possible that I will need a porcelain veneer? Although my dentist is going to pay for everything, it still bothers me that my tooth is damaged to this extent. – Thanks for your help. Christopher from Medina, OH

Christopher,

Thank you for choosing our office for your question.

Do You Need Root Canal Treatment?

You need root canal treatment if a tooth is infected, dying, or dead. Without the procedure, the issue will progress, and you will eventually lose the tooth. Untreated tooth trauma has the following progression:

• Inflammation and swelling
• Lack of room inside a tooth for swelling
• The living tissue becomes diseased, chokes, and dies

Your endodontist took an x-ray, which shows signs of diseased pulp and completed a sensitivity test. You can move forward with root canal treatment.

An Alternative to Traditional Root Canal Treatment

Your endodontist prefers GentleWave®, an alternative to traditional root canal treamtent. GentleWave has several advantages:

• It is less invasive than traditional root canal treatment.
• Multiple acoustic frequencies spin cleaning fluid through a tooth
• The fluid reaches the deep into tooth roots where root canal tools sometimes cannot.
• The procedure is less invasive than traditional root canal treatment and helps you heal faster.

An advanced cosmetic dentist can examine your tooth and determine if internal bleaching or some other treatment can lighten your tooth color. Dental bonding is less invasive than a porcelain veneer, so if you need it, a cosmetic dentist can achieve beautiful results.

Dr. Thomas J. Goebel, a Moline, Illinois cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

My tooth is turning dark, but my dentist is not concerned

My right incisor is turning dark, but my dentist is not concerned about doing anything to it. She says that it is not that bad. I have a small smiling in the corner of the tooth to replace a chipped-off piece. But I was 17 years old when it happened. Now, I am 47, and the tooth is getting darker. My dentist said the tooth is dead, and the canal is calcified, so it is too risky to do a crown. And she said that I would not be happy with a veneer, and it costs too much anyway. She suggests that I do nothing unless it becomes very noticeable. But it is noticeable and getting darker. What are my options? Thank you. Trevor

Trevor,

Your description sounds like your dentist is uncomfortable with cosmetic dentistry procedures. We recommend that you not ask your dentist to provide treatment that she is not comfortable completing. Many patients who insist on treatment are unhappy with the results.

Cosmetic Dentistry Options for a Dark Tooth

A porcelain veneer or direct dental bonding are treatment options for a dark tooth. But a dental crown requires aggressive preparation—grinding your tooth to a stub. And usually, a crown is not necessary for correcting tooth color.

• Porcelain veneer – A dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training works with a skilled ceramist at a lab to custom craft a veneer. The veneer will match the shape and size of your dark tooth, but the color will match your other teeth. If you want your teeth whitened, do it before you get a veneer.
• Direct dental bonding – While you sit in a dental chair, a cosmetic dentist can mix shades of dental composite to match your surrounding teeth. The dentist will apply, shape, and harden the bonding, then polish it to a natural gloss.

Schedule a Consultation with a Cosmetic Dentist

Although only one tooth is dark, a dentist who does not understand cosmetic dentistry can make your tooth look worse. So look for cosmetic dentists in your area. And examine patient cases in their website smile gallery. If a dentist does not have a website or smile gallery, perhaps they do not have any beautiful work to show. But read online reviews, too, before you schedule a consultation.

You can do something about your dark incisor tooth. And a cosmetic dentist can correct it with a porcelain veneer or dental bonding. Best wishes for a beautiful restoration.

 

Timothy J. Goebel, DDS, a  Moline, IL dentist, sponsors this post.