A tooth may sometimes become dark either after or during a root canal treatment. Although root canals are not noticeable after the treatment, considering that the entire procedure is carried out within the tooth, you may still have discoloured teeth that require cosmetic treatment to fix (i.e. a crown).
It is not uncommon for teeth to turn darker in color either before or after being treated with a root canal. Deposition of pigment within the tooth from the nerve, usually due to major trauma, can cause the tooth to turn either gray or brown.
However, after undergoing root canal therapy, patients may worry about the long-term health of the treated tooth. Many patients wonder if the tooth can still decay after treatment. Yes, the treated tooth can still decay. Even a root canal followed by a crown will not prevent the tooth from decaying.
Correcting tooth discoloration
One treatment method includes these steps: Clean out the crown and remove root canal filling materials and cement. If the tooth has begun to discolor, treat it with internal bleaching. Fit the tooth with a flexible fiberglass post and seal the opening.
When there is gum recession, some of the metal layer can be exposed and appears as a dark line along the gum line. Another reason for the dark line could be if the tooth previously had trauma or a root canal done before getting the crown done and gum recession exposed some of the natural tooth.
In this case, a black line may actually be part of the natural tooth structure if you had a root canal or traumatic injury before receiving the crown. Finally, a black line around a crown may indicate that the tooth underneath has begun to decay.
This procedure removes the nerve, the blood supply and all the internal pulp. The only thing left is the enamel, which is a non-vital part of the body (much like fingernails or hair). The tooth is completely dead after a root canal.
In a word, Yes! The tooth is dead after root canal treatment. It is barely a shell with all nerves and tissues that were infected are removed. There should not be any pain after the root canal treatment.
Sadly, if the root canal fails and the tooth becomes reinfected, that infection will not just go away on its own. Either some form of retreatment or extraction is necessary to restore health after reinfection.
Tooth decay: One of the leading causes of teeth turning black is tooth decay, which can result from the build-up of plaque and tartar. Poor oral hygiene can result in tooth decay, although this is reversible in the early stages. However, when teeth turn black further treatment is necessary.
It can take weeks, months or even years for a failed root canal to surface. You may recognize the symptoms of infection, such as tooth discoloration, pimples on the gum or swelling because you already went through root canal treatment once. If you do not seek treatment again, the infection may spread to other teeth.
With proper care, even teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime. But sometimes, a tooth that has been treated doesn't heal properly and can become painful or diseased months or even years after treatment. If your tooth failed to heal or develops new problems, you have a second chance.
Infections in a tooth encourage your mouth bacteria to get to the dental pulp causing nerve damage. It is why pulling a tooth while infected is recommended by dentists to prevent additional damage to your mouth.
The chance of a root canal tooth becoming reinfected is slim, but not impossible. Reinfections can occur for several reasons, including a mistake during the initial procedure or a tooth injury years after treatment, but the source always boils down to the presence of bacteria.
Teeth that receive a root canal and then a filling and crown last about 20 years. Teeth that receive either a filling or a crown after a root canal last about 11 years. Teeth that receive no restorative work after a root canal last about 6.5 years.
How successful is root canal treatment? Root canal treatment is usually successful at saving the tooth and clearing the infection. Around 9 out of 10 root-treated teeth survive for 8 to 10 years. Having a crown fitted to the tooth after root canal treatment is important for improving tooth survival rates.
Treatment of dead-tooth
The treatment begins by removing the infected pulp and then disinfecting or cleaning the inside of the tooth. The root canals are then filled & sealed, and the crown (top part of a tooth) is restored for protection.
Because a dead tooth can become brittle, the dentist may fit a crown over the tooth after the root canal treatment to strengthen and support it. Extraction: If a dead tooth is too damaged, it will likely need to be removed —another reason to seek treatment early on.
Non-removal of a dead tooth from your mouth is not wise because it can harm your remaining teeth and jaw, which is significantly dangerous. Depending on the extent and type of damage, the tooth may remain in your mouth for days, months, and even years before falling out by itself.
The blackening of teeth after receiving dental crowns is usually not serious. In some cases, however, the area around the tooth may become infected. This can cause swelling and pain, and you may need antibiotics to treat it. The blackening of teeth after receiving dental crowns is typically not serious.
Once bacteria have entered the inner layer of the tooth and infection has reached the pulp tissue, it can show in the form of darkening. This is because the tissues that lie within the root canal are dying.As they do so, they change colour to a dark or yellowish brown. This, in turn, changes the colour of the tooth.
But, what many do not realize is that sometimes it is possible to get decay under a dental crown. This can happen if all of the infected tissue was not taken out of the root, or if the crown was not placed correctly, allowing bacteria to cause decay. If decay gets under a crown, it might need to be replaced.
Like any other medical or dental procedure, though, a root canal can occasionally fail. This is normally due to a loose crown, tooth fracture, or new decay. Root canals can fail soon after the procedure, or even years later.