Why Did One Tooth Turn Gray or Dark?

Why does a tooth go gray after an injury?

A blow to a tooth can damage the pulp even when the tooth shows no visible chip or crack. Gray discoloration can be a sign that the nerve inside the tooth has died. Because the color comes from inside the tooth, it is intrinsic discoloration rather than a surface stain.

Other causes of intrinsic darkening include certain medications taken while teeth were forming, such as tetracycline, and genetics. An exam, usually with an x-ray, tells these apart.

Will teeth whitening fix a gray tooth?

Usually not. Over-the-counter and in-office whitening work on the outside of the tooth. According to the American Dental Association, yellow teeth tend to bleach well, brown teeth respond less, and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all. Whitening also has no effect on crowns, veneers or fillings.

How is a gray tooth treated?

Treatment follows the cause, in this order:

• Check the pulp. If the nerve is damaged or infected, root canal treatment saves the tooth. The treatment itself does not discolor the tooth.
• Internal bleaching. If the treated tooth is still darker than its neighbors, it can be bleached from the inside.
• Cover it. A tooth that stays dark can be matched to the teeth beside it with a porcelain veneer or a crown.

What does our office offer?

At our Deerfield Beach office we can examine the tooth, provide root canal therapy when the pulp needs it, and restore the tooth's color with porcelain veneers, Lumineers or porcelain crowns. Bring up any old injury to that tooth at your visit, even if it happened years ago.