My Tooth Turned Black Like a Bruise: What to Do When It Discolors and Necroses

Hello,

I’m Lee Ju-ri, Chief Director of Seoul Vardi Dental Clinic.

In general, when people think of teeth, they think of the color white.

But when sudden trauma occurs or symptoms of pulp necrosis develop,

they can turn black.

Like a bruise, in a way.

Because many people ask whether a tooth can be made white again,

I prepared this post.

My tooth turned black like it had a bruise Can’t it be made white again?? This is a story of a patient who recently came to the clinic.

A long time ago, while she was pregnant, her tooth hurt so much that she only received root canal treatment and left it untreated afterward.

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From some point on, the tooth turned black...

She said it was so distracting whenever she spoke or ate.

After checking it with my own eyes, that unusually black tooth really stood out.

Compared with the surrounding white teeth, it also looked even more noticeable.

Since dental treatment is often limited during pregnancy..

Only emergency treatment was done, and in the meantime, the tooth became necrotic.

Why does a tooth turn black like a bruise?

Even though teeth look as hard as bone, inside they are filled with blood vessels and nerves.

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But if it receives a strong impact (for example, if you fall and get injured),

or if the nerve is removed after root canal treatment,

blood circulation stops,

and the tooth can become discolored, as if it has a black bruise.

231211 It looks as if a gradient was applied to the tooth~

It does not turn black all at once.

White -> gray -> brown -> black

When a tooth is traumatized or when a crown is not placed after root canal treatment,

its color does not change suddenly.

It may take several months, or even several years,

and the color gradually changes over time.

Can’t it be treated with teeth whitening??

Many people ask, “Can’t you just whiten it?”

In general, teeth whitening whitens the outer surface of the tooth.

But a tooth that has turned black like this has changed color from inside the tooth,

so the color needs to be brightened from within.

There is also a treatment method for such discolored non-vital teeth, called internal bleaching,

but in many cases, internal bleaching alone is not enough.

Removing the cause from inside first, and if necessary, covering it with a prosthetic restoration, is the most effective approach.

240312 Inflammation at the root tip

If, like today’s patient, a crown is not placed after root canal treatment,

the tooth becomes weaker,

and various problems can occur.

Related post
https://blog.naver.com/implant_master/223528528552

To summarize...

A tooth that has turned black is not a good sign.

Even spoiled fruit turns black, as if it has a bruise~

Teeth, too, can change color for various reasons,

such as trauma,

lack of blood supply after root canal treatment,

or severe tooth decay.

And beyond cosmetic concerns,

the tooth may also be weakening.

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If the cause is properly identified and treated from the inside,

a patient can be restored to the point where they can open their mouth with confidence.

My tooth turned black like a bruise: what to do when it discolors and necroses

1. Internal bleaching
2. Crown treatment

I hope you leave with these two solutions.

Thank you for reading this long post.

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