Dead Teeth If trauma or infection has caused damage, the pulp and nerves can die, and the tooth turns dark pink, gray, or black. If you suspect one or more of your teeth have died, book an appointment with your dental professional. Bacteria can enter the space at the center of a dead tooth and cause an abscess.
If you notice a tooth or two turning gray, blue, black, or dark pink, the nerves and pulp within the tooth may have died. Infection, trauma, and decay can cause teeth to die and turn a different color.
When a single tooth changes to become grey in color, you may have a condition known as a necrotic pulp. The pulp is the collection of nerves and blood vessels residing within the hollow chamber of each tooth. It is this pulp tissue that “dies” and most often causes color changes.
In some cases, the tooth will heal itself; however, it is common for the tooth to remain discolored or even die. Depending on the type of damage, treatment may involve a root canal to remove the dead tissue and bleaching or cosmetic restorations to improve the color of the tooth.
This could be more serious than a simple cosmetic concern. Habitually, a grey tooth is an indication of an underlying condition that could necessitate instant treatment. You should seek advice from a dentist right away if your teeth are greying.
Whitening treatments can also improve the color of a tooth that has died. However, tetracycline-affected teeth often bleach unevenly. For these teeth and deep gray or blue teeth, crowns or veneers may give a better result.
A dying tooth may appear yellow, light brown, gray, or even black. It may look almost as if the tooth is bruised. The discoloration will increase over time as the tooth continues to decay and the nerve dies. If you experience any symptoms of a dying tooth, it's important to see your dentist right away.
Assuming there is no infection, watch to make sure that this gray tooth gets loose around the same time as the other front tooth. This will typically happen at age 5-7. If It doesn't get loose on its own, again, most likely you will have to get the tooth pulled so that the permanent tooth can come in safely.
If a milk tooth receives a hard knock, then it may discolour and start to turn grey, yellow or black in colour. This often happens two to three weeks after the initial accident. This means that the tooth's blood supply has been affected and it is struggling to get the necessary amount of blood.
A dead tooth can stay in your mouth for up to several days or months; however, keeping a dead tooth may lead to problems with your jaw and also result in the spreading of decay and bacteria to other teeth. Most dentists will recommend having the dead tooth extracted and replaced with a denture, bridge, or implant.
A root canal is the only way to save a dead tooth and involves removing the pulp and cleaning the site to prevent infections. Once the pulp has been removed and the area thoroughly cleansed, a filling will be placed in the opening and the roots will be sealed.
A dead tooth occurs when those tissues are damaged and the blood supply to the tooth is lost. It may be painful or may cause no symptoms at all. A dead or dying tooth should be treated quickly because it can become infected and have negative effects on the jaw, gums and other teeth.
A Dead Tooth Can Cause Pain
Nerve damage or pressure typically produces pain, as the nerves of the teeth can demonstrate all too vividly. An injury that exposes the pulp chamber, or an infection that causes pressure inside the pulp chamber to build up, can cause a severe toothache.
A dental abscess is a painful swelling filled with a thick fluid that is yellow in color (pus).
An infected tooth will frequently change its color from yellow to grey or dark brown color.
Tooth discoloration is when the color of your teeth changes. They might appear yellowed or less bright, or they may develop white or dark flecks. Causes include tobacco use, dental trauma, poor oral hygiene and certain foods, drinks and medications.
Since the enamel is translucent, the colour of the dentin shows through. This discolouration of the tooth stays the same even after root canal treatment. Unless this corrupted tissue is removed from the inside of the tooth, the infectious process would continue.
As we get older, the outer hard tissue covering our teeth, called enamel, wears away and exposes the darker dentin beneath it. This can cause our teeth to appear more gray or yellow rather than white. Additional tooth staining can also be caused by certain medications.
Root canals are needed for a cracked tooth from injury or genetics, a deep cavity, or issues from a previous filling. Patients generally need a root canal when they notice their teeth are sensitive, particularly to hot and cold sensations.
Tooth Sensitivity or Pain – As the nerves that lead to a dying tooth begin to die away, they may become extra sensitive, causing you a tooth ache or sensitivity to hot or cold foods. You may experience pain while chewing at or around the site of the dead tooth.
You should know what a dead tooth looks like, but it's also important to realize that you may not see any physical difference even if your tooth is actually dead. Signs of a dead tooth can include: Pain, which can range from almost unnoticeable to excruciating. A bad taste or bad smell resulting from an infection.
How long will it take? Baby teeth seem to take several months to lighten, usually around six months or so. It is kind of like a bruise inside the tooth. Unlike a bruise on the skin where there is a good blood supply, the tooth takes a longer amount of time to recover.