A discolored tooth is caused by bleeding in the tooth. There are thousands of small tubes in the dentin under a discolored tooth's crown. The dried and dead blood causes the tooth to look discolored. Fresh healthy blood can not get into the small tubes after the dead blood dries and the blocked tubes can not be cleaned.

          Unfortunately, a discolored tooth can last a lifetime. If you have one and it's bothering you, there are ways to correct it. A tooth that has been hit can die because of the blow. If it dies, it may need a root canal to prevent more problems from developing. Many patients with a dead and discolored tooth can go for years before anything happens. It's amazing.

          A discolored tooth is not always dead. It can sometimes be whitened using regular whitening techniques. If the whitening does not work, the tooth can be covered with a tooth colored material so it looks normal. The tooth can be bonded or a porcelain laminate can be made to cover it.

          A discolored tooth can be very noticeable and it often bothers a patient. However, many patients feel uncomfortable asking their dentist to do a cosmetic procedure. There are several ways to treat a dark tooth and they do not need to be expensive. Some treatments are even covered by insurance companies.

          If you have a discolored tooth and you would like to talk to Dr. Padosky or Dr. Smith, please consider making a consultation appointment by calling 404-874-7428.