Does a Dark Tooth Need Root Canal Treatment?

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My tooth is turning dark. My dentist says I need a root canal, but I feel no discomfort. Does a dark tooth always need a root canal? I can’t fit it into my budget. Thanks. Vance from SoCal

Vance,

Although a darkening tooth may not always need a root canal, an exam and X-ray can reveal its condition and whether it is infected.

A dark tooth often indicates a dead or dying tooth pulp when the living tissue inside the tooth becomes infected and decays. While you may not feel pain if the tooth is dead, the infection can spread and cause serious health problems.

Why You Shouldn’t Delay Root Caal Treatment

You shouldn’t delay root canal treatment because a lingering tooth infection can lead to various complications, including:

  • Foul taste or smell in your mouth
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Swelling in your face or cheek
  • Tenderness or swelling under your jaw or in your neck
  • Fever
  • Gum disease
  • Dehydration
  • Stomach pain
  • Fatigue

Address a dead tooth promptly because the infection can spread in your body.

What to Expect During Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is generally a painless procedure. A skilled dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area. You won’t feel any nerve pain even if the tooth is dead.

While a dental crown protects a treated tooth, it’s not always necessary immediately. If budget is a concern, discuss temporary measures with your dentist to safeguard the tooth until you can afford a crown.

A Metal File Tip Broke in My Tooth During a Root Canal

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My dentist told me that a metal tip from his instrument broke off in my tooth during root canal treatment. I heard it break. However, my dentist said the instrument was sterile, so he didn’t want to probe my tooth for the metal tip and potentially irritate it. I asked for a temporary cap only until I decided what to do. Should he have left the metal tooth? Could I develop an infection later? I don’t want to pay for a final crown and then need it removed to get the metal tip out. I’m unsure that my dentist knows how to remove it anyway. Thanks. Quinn from TN

Quinn,

It’s not uncommon for dentists to encounter situations where a metal file breaks during a procedure. These files are delicate and can break easily.  If the tip of a file breaks, a dentist would need to navigate around it to seal the tip of the tooth root. However, if the metal tip obstructs the root tip, it increases the risk of root canal failure. Depending on the location of the root tip in your tooth’s canal, you may need to repeat root canal treatment, underscoring the importance of getting the tooth evaluated.

Asking your dentist to refer you to an endodontist (root canal specialist) will increase the chance of a better outcome. A file tip can be challenging to remove for many dentists. However, an endodontist’s specialized tools can reach deep into a tooth’s canal to extract the tip of a metal file.

If your dentist hesitates to refer you to an endodontist, insist on it or find one yourself. You were wise to explain to your dentist that you want to keep the temporary crown until you decide how to treat the tooth. Ensure you see an endodontist to resolve the issue rather than relying on a general dentist. It can help you avoid another infection and root canal failure, which can lead to replacing the tooth with a dental implant.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge cosmetic dentist and a Fellow of implant dentistry, sponsors this post.

An Untreated Tooth Infection Can Be Fatal

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Are you tempted to treat a tooth infection at home because it’s cheaper, more convenient, or helps you avoid the dentist? Published research on untreated tooth infections that led to fatalities can help you understand how going to a dentist for root canal treatment can be life-saving.

The Journal of Endodontics published results from a study that showed 66 people died from tooth infections from 2000-2008. Additionally, the Sacramento Bee and Fox News reported the case of Californian Vadim Kondratyuk Anatoliyevich, a 26-year-old husband and father of two girls. Vidim was a long-haul truck driver who developed a tooth infection. In January 2017, while driving to New York on a long-haul job, Vadim’s tooth infection worsened, so he stopped in Oklahoma to see a dentist who prescribed antibiotics. As Vadim continued his travel to New York, the toothache got better, then worse, and the side of his face began to swell.

Vadim made his delivery in New York but could not drive home due to the severity of his tooth infection. Vadim’s brother flew to New York to drive him back to California. However, Vadim had difficulty breathing and became pale, so his brother took him to a Utah hospital, where he was placed on oxygen and flown to a Salt Lake City facility.

A diagram of root canal treatment steps including removing the infection, filling the canals, and crowning the tooth

Root canal treatment gets rid of a tooth infection

The infection had spread to Vadim’s blood and lungs. Despite stronger antibiotics and dialysis, the doctors in Salt Lake City could not save him. Vadim’s wife was able to fly to the hospital in Utah to say goodbye before he died.

At-home care is not enough to treat a tooth infection. Antibiotics are insufficient because an infected tooth is dead and does not have blood circulation to transport medication. If you have a toothache, address it by seeing a dentist for root canal treatment—the only way to remove infection from a tooth. By seeing a dentist immediately for root canal treatment, you can avoid a tooth infection that spreads and becomes life-threatening.

 

Baton Rouge accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post.