dead tooth Archives - Dental Care at Flint's Crossing

Will a Root Canal Make My Son’s Front Tooth Whiter?

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Athena Smiles.

My son almost knocked one of his front teeth out while horseplaying in the pool a few summers ago. Back then, he was seeing a pediatric dentist who suggested we take a “wait and see” approach. She thought it would heal up on its own and it seemed to have, but it’s turning a grayish color now. He graduated to seeing the family dentist who says the next step is getting a root canal because the tooth is dying, and that it’s up to us whether we want to do it right away or wait until the tooth starts hurting. I’ve never heard of a root canal whitening a tooth. Has the process changed over the years?

Thanks,

Tyra

Dear Tyra,

Did the dentist say the tooth was dying or that it was already dead? That’s an important distinction. True, it can take months or years for a tooth to turn gray after trauma. The coloring is a common symptom of the blood flow being cut off or nerve being severed. But, most people do have other symptoms and, for the dentist to indicate the tooth is presently dying with no symptoms beyond a color shift, it’s a bit unusual. You wouldn’t want a root canal if the tooth is vital and not infected and there are other things that can cause gray discolorations. Let’s go over this a bit.

Many Things Can Cause Teeth to Go Gray

While trauma is perhaps the likely culprit here, it’s important to remember there are lots of potential causes of gray teeth. Although some of the following won’t apply to your son, a detailed list is provided below for others following along too.

Decay: Cavities can cut off blood flow just like trauma can.
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta: Although rare, this hereditary disorder weakens teeth and can turn them a bluish-gray color.
Tetracycline: When children under 8 receive this antibiotic or expectant mothers take it, it can turn developing teeth gray.
Restorations: Metal tooth restorations, such as amalgam fillings and crowns, can discolor teeth too.
Aging: Sometimes teeth take on a blue-gray hue as a person ages.
Root Canal Medications and Materials: Certain medications used to disinfect during root canal treatment can turn the tooth a brownish-gray color. Sometimes the inert filling used to fill empty chambers after a root canal, or cement used, can cause discolorations as well.

Get Clarification from Your Dentist or a Second Opinion

Color alone does not signify the tooth is dead or dying. Find out what he’s seeing beyond the coloration and what condition he thinks the tooth is presently in. It may be a good idea to get a second opinion before starting treatment too.

A Root Canal Will NOT Whiten a Tooth

A root canal is the next step if the tooth’s nerve is dead or the tooth is infected, but that’s only because a dead tooth will eventually develop an infection. Think of it like a stagnant pool of water. Bacteria gets in there and thrives until you have a raging infection. It’s no fun at all! You don’t want to let it get to that point, so if your son has other signs the nerve is no longer vital, it’s best to move forward with the root canal as soon as possible.

With that said, a root canal won’t do anything about the color of the tooth. For that, you’ll want to explore cosmetic options, such as internal bleaching (performed by a dentist) or a veneer. Best of luck to you and yours.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, an Auburn, AL dentist providing pediatric dental services and emergency dental care.

Will Tooth the Pediatric Dentist Damaged Heal on its Own?

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Athena Smiles.

My teen still sees a pediatric dentist, mostly because the office does ortho and she was undergoing treatment until recently. When she successfully completed treatment, they recommended we do a fixed retainer rather than a removable one because they weren’t sure she’d wear the removable one like she should.

Well, she just started back to school and sings in the choir, so almost immediately after classes resumed, she began complaining that the fixed retainer was making it impossible to sing. The pediatric dentist asked her to give it a bit more time to get used to it, but she was coming home crying almost daily, so I pushed him to remove it.

I’m not sure what happened, but while he was removing it, one of my daughter’s lower front teeth was banged. It looks bad. It’s darker now and seems to be out of place. She’s also complaining that doing just about anything hurts.

The dentist took an x-ray and ran some tests. He said he doesn’t see anything wrong with the x-ray, but since the tooth responds to cold, he thinks it’s dying and will need a root canal. He referred us out to a specialist for it.

My questions are, first, isn’t the fact that it’s responding a good sign? Second, since he didn’t see anything on the x-ray, is there still a chance this will heal on its own?

Thank you,

Lynn

Dear Lynn,

There’s a lot to be concerned about here. Let’s break this down.

Dead and Dying Teeth Do Not Heal

When a tooth is diagnosed as dead or dying, it means the pulp inside the tooth is no longer vital, so it’s not capable of fighting off infection. The only fix in these situations is a root canal. Symptoms like responding to cold are signs that a root canal may be necessary, particularly if she’s experiencing a pain response when the tooth is cold. The coloration and clear indications of trauma point in that direction too.

The Pediatric Dentist’s Remarks Are Questionable

It’s worrisome that the dentist isn’t making a diagnosis given everything he’s seeing. It’s equally concerning that the tooth was damaged in what should have been a routine procedure. This is something that he should be covering—if he hasn’t already offered to pay for the follow-up treatment, you should ask him about it. Better yet, get a second opinion. You can take her to your family dentist or to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis. If that dentist sees what you’re describing and feels it needs a root canal, you can also ask his office to send a request for payment to the dentist who injured the tooth. Although some will avoid getting in the middle of these kinds of things, you can sometimes eliminate extra hoops to jump through by having the new treating doctor make the request.

Don’t Delay Treatment

If this is a dead or dying tooth—and it certainly sounds like it is—it’s only going to get worse. Get it checked out before your daughter’s in serious pain. Best to both of you.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, a family dentist providing pediatric dental services in Auburn, AL.

Pediatric Dentist or Root Canal Specialist?

Posted on September 16, 2016 by iowasmiles.

When my son was three, he took a tumble and bumped his face. He was upset and cut his lip, but his teeth looked fine, so I didn’t even consider taking him to the pediatric dentist back then. Here we are six months later and his tooth is turning an ugly gray color. At first, I thought it was just come kind of staining, but I have scrubbed at it to no avail and it looks like the whole thing is colored. I know in an adult this means the tooth is dead, but my son doesn’t seem bothered by it at all unless I’m messing with it. I think this must be connected to the fall, but I don’t understand why it would take so long to develop- he’s four now. I’m kicking myself for not taking him to the pediatric dentist back then. Could this have been prevented? Going forward, do I need to book him with a pediatric dentist, a root canal specialist, or should I just monitor for more symptoms?

Thanks,

Delilah M. – Kentucky

Dear Delilah,

You likely won’t need to do either. When a tooth is injured and dying. it can turn a grey color. That’s the bruising being seen from inside the tooth. It does sound like his tooth has died, but you couldn’t have prevented it, even if you took him in right away. The damage was done instantaneously. Nothing could have stopped the progression.

Your son’s baby tooth will likely fall out in the next couple of years anyway, so you may not need to treat the tooth at all. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on it and if you’re worried about anything, you can have it checked out by the pediatric dentist. It’s up to you. But, you’re not a bad parent if you just wait it out.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.