If you need to have a root canal treatment, you should know that your tooth appearance can look slightly different afterwards, in that it may look as if it has changed colour. This is actually very common and we’ll explain the reasons why a tooth changes colour, and what you can do about it in our blog post below.
Why your tooth can change colour after a root canal treatment
There are a few reasons why your tooth might look different after a root canal treatment:
- Most commonly, is that pulp tissue (the layer in the centre of the tooth) is left inside. The discolouring happens when this leftover pulp starts to decompose. The reason why it can be so easy to overlook pulp in the tooth is because small fragments of it can be found in pulp horns, which are like small tunnels dividing away from the centre of the tooth, which are hard to spot.
- Root canal filling materials could be left in the crown (the top part of your tooth which is most visible). Your dentist should try to keep these materials isolated to the root portion of the tooth to reduce this risk of discolouration.
- Medications can also colour a tooth. Sometimes, in order to improve the chances of success of a root canal, dentists will add compounds which have a tendency to discolour the dentin over a period of time.
- Materials inside of the crown, like amalgam (a silver filling) can cause the tooth to look a grey colour. Normally this isn’t as noticeable if your root canal is for a back molar, but if it’s at the front of your mouth and you want your smile to stay as white as possible, discuss alternative options with your dentist.
- In some cases where your tooth was damaged or infected and discoloured before the treatment started, your tooth could be restored to white again with the proper treatment from your dentist.
What can you do to restore the natural colour of your tooth after a root canal treatment?
- Bleaching: A bleaching agent can be put into the pulp chamber inside the tooth. Since the chamber is now empty, the bleaching agent will fill in the gaps and help to prevent the tooth from discolouring. It is a completely safe and effective procedure. Once the bleaching agent has been applied, your dentist will cover it with a cotton pellet. A seal is then required to prevent leakage.
- Using white composite fillings: Discolouration from silver fillings can be hard to remove, so choosing white fillings initially can help to prevent this. Replacing silver fillings with white ones can help to gradually reduce the staining over time, and used in combination with internal bleaching can be very effective.
- Crowns or veneers: These can restore the discoloured tooth, and by enclosing the tooth the crown will strengthen the structure that remains. As crowns are usually made from porcelain, they can be matched to the colour of your existing teeth for a long-lasting restoration.
Think you need a root canal? You can book an appointment online or call 01 636 0192. We are at 1 Forbes Street, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2.
