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.

Should My Dentist Have Put a Veneer Instead of a Crown on My Front Tooth?

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After getting a root canal on my left front tooth in 2021, started turning dark. My dentist at the time wanted to put a veneer over the tooth, but I declined. I’m beginning to regret it. My new dentist filed down the tooth for a crown last month. The crown looks okay, but I’m still concerned about how little of the tooth is left. Did I make the wrong decision? Did my dentist trick me into getting a crown when a veneer would have worked better? Thanks. Dominique

Dominique,

Dental school teaches students to protect a tooth with a crown after root canal treatment. Your dentist did what she was taught and offered a crown, which requires grinding down your tooth in preparation. It’s unfair to say she tricked you into getting a crown when you could have a porcelain veneer for your front tooth.

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

A porcelain veneer covers the front of a tooth and requires minimal tooth preparation

Your description sounds as if your tooth didn’t have extensive decay or breakage. However, root canal therapy weakens teeth, and a crown protects them from fracture.

Back teeth absorb more pressure from chewing than front teeth. Without a dental crown, a back root canal tooth would break.

Stress on front teeth is lateral mainly because they do not have chewing surfaces. A front tooth is most likely to break at the gumline. After root canal treatment, preparing the tooth for a dental crown further weakens it. A veneer would have left your front tooth stronger.

Tooth discoloration after root canal treatment is caused by the dental filler material. A skilled cosmetic dentist would remove the material, place a flexible fiberglass post in the tooth, and fill it with tooth-colored composite. However, you have a dental crown instead of a veneer now. Keep your dental cleaning, exam appointments, and yearly X-rays to help your dentist monitor your front tooth and ensure it remains healthy.

Dr. Steven Brooksher, a Baton Rouge fellow of implant dentistry, sponsors this post. Request a consultation with Dr. Brooksher today.

Can a dark tooth be saved?

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Last year I fell during my morning run and fractured my right front tooth, and now the tooth is dark. My dentist did a root canal on the tooth, so I wasn’t expecting it to turn dark. My dentist didn’t mention that I should expect it either. I had an exam two weeks ago, and my dentist explained that sometimes root canal teeth turn dark. How do I know that the tooth is not decaying and that I will eventually need a dental implant? My dentist says she can put a veneer over the tooth. I don’t want to say that I do not trust my dentist, but I am skeptical because she didn’t warn me that it might turn dark. Although my smile is not perfect, I like it. And people compliment my smile. Should I be concerned about my dark tooth, or is it okay to proceed with a porcelain veneer? And what if the veneer doesn’t match my other teeth? Thank you – Emery, from Jackson, MS

 

Emery,

Although Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your tooth for an accurate diagnosis, a porcelain veneer can conceal a dark tooth.

Why Does a Tooth Turn Dark After Root Canal Treatment?

Diagram of the phases of a dental implant for a comparison to a partial denture.

An extraction and dental implant are not necessary for a dark tooth

A tooth turns dark after root canal treatment due to dentin (the layer beneath the enamel) staining or leftover root canal filler material.

  • Dentin stain – When the pulp—living tissue, nerves, and blood vessels—inside your tooth dies, it can stain the dentin. And dentin is the layer beneath your tooth enamel. If a dentist does not thoroughly clean out the infected tooth pulp during root canal treatment, it will stain the dentin and how through your tooth.
  • Leftover root canal filler material – Some root canal filler materials accelerate tooth darkness if a dentist leaves the material in the tooth crown. But a skilled cosmetic dentist knows to clean filler material to slow the darkening process.

Treatment for a Dark Root Canal Tooth

Photo of the tip of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneer; from the Baton Rouge office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher.

A single porcelain veneer can conceal a dark tooth

Internal bleaching will lighten a dark root canal tooth. After bleaching, a cosmetic dentist will work with a skilled ceramist to craft a porcelain veneer that perfectly matches the characteristics and color of your natural teeth.

Unless you have an advanced tooth infection or new trauma to the tooth, your dentist should not suggest aggressive treatment. Instead, a dentist will recommend a dental implant if they or an endodontist (root canal specialist) cannot save your tooth.

Get a Second Opinion for Your Dark Tooth

If your dentist does not have advanced cosmetic dentistry training, you can check the credentials of a few cosmetic dentists in your area. Schedule a consultation with one or two cosmetics to discuss your options for whitening your dark tooth.

Steven Brooksher, DDS, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.