A front tooth does not suddenly get discolored, it is a gradual process. People who have a dark front tooth can often remember being hit by a person or object a long time ago/were involved in an accident. The impact the tooth received during the accident causes the death of the pulp (the power house of the tooth). After sometime, the dead pulp which occupies the inner part of the tooth decomposes and begins to release some substances which leads to the gradual change in colour of the affected tooth.
Treatment
- The first step in treating a dead tooth is to remove the dead pulp and clean the inner surface of the tooth through a process known as Root Canal treatment.
- The next step is to brighten the dark tooth. After the tooth has gone through a root canal treatment, the dentist then bleaches the tooth by filling the inner surface of the tooth with a special bleaching material for a period of time. Sometimes, this alone is sufficient to brighten the tooth.
- Another option is to place a Dental Crown. This covers the entire surface of the tooth and prevents the tooth from breaking off since it has lost its nutrient supply.
The earlier a dead tooth is treated, the less likely it will change colour. Hence, a tooth that has been involved in an accident should be checked by the dentist periodically to determine if it survived the impact or is dead.
Photo credit: dentalaegis