Why Did Your Tooth Turn Dark After a Root Canal?
After successfully completing root canal treatment at your local dental centre, you probably won't think about the affected tooth much further. After all, the infected dental pulp (the tooth's nerve) was removed, ending your discomfort and risk of further infection. The tooth has been cured and shouldn't bother you any further—until it does, in an unexpected way. Although your treated tooth may feel fine, why has it darkened?
Not as Alarming as It Seems
A tooth that begins to darken after successful root canal treatment isn't as alarming as it may seem. There's generally a simple explanation for the tooth's transformation. What you have to remember is that the dental pulp inside the tooth is living tissue, and when it was infected it may have become swollen.
Swollen Pulp
As dental pulp swells, it presses against the pulp chamber. This is the hollow section at the centre of each tooth (containing its nerve.) The inflamed pulp may leave blood residue on the walls of the pulp chamber. This residue remains, even once the inflamed pulp has been removed from the tooth.
Partially Translucent
This internal staining may not be immediately obvious, but as the tooth recuperates from its procedure (with the empty pulp chamber now filled with dental latex), its appearance may change. Remember that teeth are partially translucent, so it's possible to see this internal staining from the outside of the tooth. This is why teeth with dead dental pulp or teeth that have had their infected dental pulp removed may change colour. Can the tooth be whitened?
From the Outside
Unfortunately, conventional whitening methods aren't an option. These attack the problem from the outside, and the external application of whitening gel won't have any effect on internal staining. The active ingredient in whitening kits (typically hydrogen peroxide) is designed to penetrate surface stains only. For your particular problem, you'll need to consult a dentist.
A Few Solutions
Depending on the degree of discolouration and the position of the tooth, your dentist has a few solutions. The tooth can be opened once again, with a slow-release internal bleaching strip placed inside its pulp chamber. This will slowly remove those internal stains. But many patients prefer to leave the tooth alone as much as possible, thus avoiding having it opened again. Instead, a dentist may attach a veneer (tooth-coloured porcelain shell) to the outward-facing surface of the tooth. Alternatively, the tooth can be capped with a dental crown. Veneers and crowns will permanently conceal the tooth's discolouration.
Visit a dental centre to learn more.
