I’ve had a tooth that has been turning dark the last few years. I went to see a dentist who said the tooth is still viable, so I can either get a root canal treatment and dental crown or dental bonding. I’m kind of at a loss as to which one is the best option. What are the benefits to one over the other?
Meagan
Dear Meagan,
Your dentist has muddied the issue. If the tooth is infected, it is considered a dental emergency and you need a root canal treatment. If it is not infected you don’t need the treatment.
While it is true that when a tooth turns gray, it often means the infected pulp inside has died, this is not what has happened to you. Your tooth is still viable. This means that there was likely some trauma a few years ago (around the time the tooth started changing color).
When there is trauma to a tooth, sometimes it will build up defenses with a second dentin. This will have the two-fold effect of giving the tooth a darker appearance, as well as shrinking some of the living pulp. This will make it less sensitive to stimuli.
Because you are not dealing with an infected or dead tooth, my suggestion would be to fix the problem, which is the appearance. Either dental bonding or a porcelain veneer will be the right fix for this.
Teeth Whitening and Cosmetic Work
A good cosmetic dentist can match the gray tooth to the rest of your teeth, so you truly only have to do that one procedure. However, there is a consideration. Cosmetic work, including porcelain crowns, veneers, and bonding will not whiten once it is completed. You can whiten your natural teeth. Though the whitening gel won’t harm your dental work, it won’t whiten it either.
To prevent that in the future, most dentists will recommend you do any teeth whitening you may want before you have something like dental bonding done. This way your teeth are the permanent color you’ll want and the bonding can be made to match the brightness and hue you are happy with. If you’re in a hurry, Zoom Whitening can whiten your teeth in just one appointment.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.