What Can You Do About a Discolored, Injured Tooth?

A traumatic injury to your teeth can leave it discolored. The depth of the discoloration can vary, but for many who experience it, it is embarrassing and hurts their self-confidence. If you have a discolored tooth because of an injury, discover more on what you need to know.

What Causes Discoloration?

The injury to your tooth is the simple explanation as to what led to discoloration. However, it is a bit more complicated than that. Knowing exactly what happened after the injury occurred is the key to handling the discolored tooth.

For many people, the discoloration occurred after the tooth's pulp died. The pulp dies because the blood supply to the nerve and the pulp has been cut off or ended. When this happens, the first step the dentist will take is to deal with the dead pulp. Often, this means a root canal.

During a root canal, the dead pulp will be removed from the interior of the tooth and the cavity will be cleaned. Once the cavity is prepped, the tooth will be filled. Removing the dead pulp is more than just about the discoloration. It is necessary to prevent an infection that could spread to your other teeth.

If the pulp of the tooth is still alive, or vital, there is likely not an underlying issue that will prevent the dentist from taking a more external approach to resolving the discoloration of the tooth.

What Is the Treatment?

Regardless of the cause, teeth whitening is the likely option for restoring the whiteness of the teeth. For instance, if the dentist had to perform a root canal, he or she can whiten the affected tooth in office. The results can vary based on how badly the tooth was discolored.

If the pulp was still vital, chances are, teeth whitening will be effective in helping to lighten the tooth. If there are other factors at play, such as poor dental hygiene or smoking, the finished result could be impacted.

Before attempting to whiten your teeth at home yourself, you should see a dentist. This is especially true if you only have one tooth that is discolored. Whitening your teeth at home could result in the discoloration being more noticeable.

There is also the possibility for damage to your enamel due to the harshness of the peroxide that is found in at-home teeth whitening kits. If whitening at home is possible, your dentist will advise you on how to safely do it. 

Share