In general, the condition of the front teeth greatly affects the aesthetics of your smile. Darkening of the front tooth makes patients want to solve the problem of darkening as quickly as possible - this is a good motivation to visit an endodontist. Especially if you are going to correct your bite using aligners or braces. If a patient’s tooth has darkened, this is a unique and timely motivation to take care of the health of their teeth.
Agree, when even one front tooth has darkened, this is a serious aesthetic problem that affects the eyes of others!
We asked our colleague, chief physician of the German Implantology Center Magomed Dakhkilgov, to talk about the problem of darkened teeth and ways to solve it.
For reference:
Magomed Dakhgilkov - maxillofacial surgeon, implantologist, orthopedist.
The total work experience is more than 20 years, more than 5 thousand dental surgeries have been performed. The doctor who created the German implantology clinics, which today are the best in ratings both in Moscow and in Russia. In his clinics, doctors work exclusively using a microscope and use an analytical approach to dental treatment with maximum preservation of nerve endings. The doctor’s motto is “ The tooth must live
.”
Why does a tooth turn black under a filling?
If the tooth under the filling turns black, you should contact your dentist for diagnosis and determine a treatment method. This symptom indicates the presence of pathological processes that need to be stopped. Let's look at the most common reasons for changes in the appearance of teeth:
- Loss of the protective properties of the seal . The enamel may turn black as a result of the development of so-called secondary caries.
- Blackening may be the result of tartar formation due to ineffective or irregular hygiene procedures. More often this happens in areas that are located in places that are difficult to access for cleaning.
- If prosthetics were previously carried out , then as a result of thinning of the tooth enamel, metal structures - pins and crowns - may become visible.
- The filling turns black as a result of poor quality treatment . If the dentist does not remove all the affected tissue and the infection remains, the darkening will appear within six months.
- A change in tooth color can be triggered by necrotic processes in the pulp that develop as a result of infectious diseases of the soft tissue of the gums.
- The tooth may turn black due to staining with materials that were previously used to install the filling. Perhaps this is the most harmless reason of all listed.
Among the listed reasons, the most common is the development of secondary caries - in this case, the situation can only be saved by repeated filling.
The worst thing is if the darkened dental units begin to hurt. This is a symptom that leaves no doubt that inflammation has begun and urgent medical attention is required. If the dentist removed the nerve during the filling process, then pain even if the filling is lost will not bother the patient.
The presence of obvious discomfort indicates that the root canals were not treated and the nerve remains. Inaction can lead to serious damage and further tooth extraction, the development of cysts and the spread of infection.
Even if the filling has turned black, but remains intact, you cannot postpone a visit to the dentist, because its presence does not provide any guarantee of the safety and health of the tooth.
What contributes to the darkening of crowns and dentures
It is not only the appearance of artistic restorations and fillings made using composite materials that causes dissatisfaction among patients in dental clinics. Some complain that they are not satisfied with the color of prosthetic structures made from metal-ceramics or plastic. Why is this happening?
Plastic products are similar in aesthetic and quality characteristics to those made from composites. The material is very “delicate”, it is porous, and quickly loses its aesthetics under the influence of food and drinks with dyes, from smoking, and due to lack of oral hygiene.
Metal-ceramic prostheses are a different story. And if you are going to install them in the smile area, which professional doctors strongly do not recommend doing, then you must have a clear understanding of their shortcomings:
- the metal shines through the ceramics: if the restoration is single, then this will be noticeable, especially in bright lighting,
- the metal oxidizes, so a bluish rim may appear at the border with the gum over time, which will further spoil the overall impression of your smile.
Important! In order not to think about the question of how to whiten artificial crowns and dentures installed in the smile area, initially choose the right materials from which they will be made. Ceramics and zirconium dioxide are ideal for the smile area: they do not change shade throughout their entire service life and have high aesthetics.
Additional symptoms
Typically, the appearance of secondary caries is accompanied not only by darkening, but also by a number of other symptoms that are difficult to miss. What should you pay attention to if your teeth turn black? Let's consider additional symptoms:
- change in enamel color, appearance of a black dot on the surface, darkening and other visual signs of destruction;
- bad breath, especially in the morning after waking up, is the result of the development of pathogens and tissue destruction;
- mobility of the filling, which may eventually partially crumble or fall out completely;
- pain, especially if the nerves are not removed;
- redness of the gums caused by the presence of an inflammatory process.
Even if the blackening of the filling is not accompanied by the additional symptoms described above, it is recommended to undergo a preventive examination so that a specialist can identify the causes of the problem and determine the tactics for further action.
Is it possible to whiten restorations at home or in dentistry?
How to whiten an extended tooth at home or in dentistry? The answer will disappoint many. This is impossible to do for the reason that all bleaching agents known today act only on organic tissues (i.e. directly on enamel and dentin), destroying the pigment in them.
On a note! Patients who have removable dentures also often wonder if they can be whitened. It is impossible to do this. It is much easier to prevent darkening of materials by promptly removing food and bacterial plaque from them: cleaning tablets and professional hygiene at the dentist will help with this.
However, if the extended tooth has darkened due to depulpation, i.e. If the nerve is removed, you can try to restore its color using intracanal bleaching performed in the dentist’s office. However, it is worth remembering that the procedure can make it even more fragile and weak. It may even break off over time, which will lead to the need for removal. In addition, the effect will only be temporary; in 1-2 years everything can return to its place.
Diagnostics
The task of diagnosis is to determine why the filling material and the dental elements underneath have turned black. Professional techniques will help identify the presence of caries and the extent of damage in order to make a final decision on removal or treatment.
Diagnosis consists of a visual examination, as well as an x-ray examination. If concomitant diseases of the oral cavity are suspected, additional diagnostic methods can be used.
What can be done with darkened restoration
If your extended tooth turns black, there may be several options for solving the problem. All of them can be done with the help of a dentist.
Artistic extension
Patients who have teeth made of composite materials often complain of a rapid loss of smile aesthetics. However, they have the advantage that such a restoration can always be replaced with a new one. The doctor can easily grind off the old composites and apply fresh ones that will match the color. All this can be done in one visit to the clinic, and you won’t have to burden yourself with big expenses. The asking price is from 5 thousand rubles.
On a note! Has the composite material used for the extensions become dull and lost its shine? Perhaps polishing and sanding it will be enough. If you contact your dentist for this service every 3-4 months, the restoration will retain its beauty longer.
Installation of veneers or lumineers
The thinnest ceramic or zirconium dioxide plates will make your smile beautiful not for 2-3 years (as with composite restoration), but for 10 years or more. At the same time, the linings will not change their color under the influence of pigments from food and drinks, and will not lose their shine and whiteness throughout the entire period of use.
It is worth noting here that it is better to install onlays of this type on all teeth located in the smile zone at once, because otherwise they may stand out against the general background. And then it will seem that the neighboring teeth are darker than the one that was restored.
“The tooth added to the front has darkened. In principle, this was expected, because... The doctor warned that sooner or later such a problem would happen. I decided to replace it with Lumineers, but I was very upset when I learned that Lumineers can only be installed as a set, in the amount of 6-8 pieces at once, and this is a very expensive pleasure. And wait several months. After all, the originals have to be ordered from America itself. In the end, I limited myself to a couple of veneers - it turns out that it’s possible. It was really cheaper and looks really nice!”
Christina, fragment of review from otzovik.com
3, Crown installation
To avoid having to think about bleaching and constantly redoing the restoration, you can install a crown made of ceramics or zirconium dioxide. These materials are optimal for the smile area: they have the shine and color of natural enamel, retain their whiteness and performance characteristics for 10 years or more.
This option is best considered for patients whose teeth are severely damaged.
“Five years ago, I fell on the street in icy conditions and suffered a jaw injury; one front tooth, which was built up with a composite due to a slight curvature, was also broken. He had to be depulped. Then I wanted to restore it: for example, to build it up again or put in a veneer, but the doctor said that this was contraindicated, because it is now very fragile, and over time it will begin to darken due to the lack of nerve and the blackness will show through, so it is better to immediately protect it with a crown. We chose ceramic. It looks like it can’t be distinguished from the others by its color, and after years its appearance doesn’t change at all, although I don’t particularly limit myself in anything - I eat and drink whatever I want.”
Alisa Talalueva, review from 32top.ru
Therapy
If the filling on the front tooth or on any other tooth has darkened, there are three possible solutions to the problem, the choice of which should be determined by the diagnostic results:
- Removal: performed if the tooth is so damaged that it cannot be cured;
- Removing an old filling, treating caries and installing a new filling material;
- Installation of a dental crown after complete elimination of the pathology.
If complications develop and other diseases occur, additional therapeutic measures may be required to eliminate the source of infection and restore the tooth.
How to eliminate darkening of a tooth
If your tooth has darkened, a very effective method of solving the problem is the method of internal whitening of the darkened tooth.
With this method, the old filling is removed, the tooth canal is cleaned using a microscope, and a whitening substance is placed inside the tooth. After a couple of days, this substance is removed and a filling is placed on the tooth. The tooth is lightened - the problem is solved! As a rule, I re-treat the root canal of a darkened tooth under a microscope, then whiten the tooth from the inside, strengthen it and restore it with a filling. If the outer surface of the enamel is not damaged, the filling can be installed on the inside of the tooth.
Why does such a tooth need to be treated first? If you leave the infection in the tooth canal, the darkening process will continue, and the inflammation will spread to the bone around the root. As a result, the patient may be left without a tooth altogether.
It is the treatment of the tooth under a microscope that is aimed at completely removing the infection from the tooth cavity and root.
Prevention
You can prevent blackening of a tooth under a filling with the help of effective prophylaxis. To avoid the need for re-treatment, you should follow several rules:
Firstly, follow all the hygiene instructions of doctors - brush your teeth in a timely and regular manner, using the right toothpaste, floss, and rinses. Secondly, undergo preventive examinations in a timely manner in order to identify and treat any diseases in the early stages, before complications arise.
Try to avoid temperature changes - do not eat hot and cold food at the same time, do not drink hot drinks in the cold. Avoid traumatic effects - do not gnaw hard food (nuts, seeds) with filled teeth. Treat any infectious diseases in a timely manner, including those that are not directly related to the oral cavity.
Get rid of bad habits that disrupt the body’s activities and weaken its protective functions. Do not skimp on tooth restoration and, if the filling has darkened, replace it in a timely manner.
With proper oral care and timely treatment, it will be possible to restore a blackened tooth after damage by secondary caries. Modern dental techniques make it possible to avoid the loss of teeth even in the most difficult situations, provided that the patient consults a doctor in a timely manner. Therefore, you should undergo regular preventive examinations to identify the presence of destructive processes at an early stage.
When there is black caries, but it is still not treated
Many people have encountered a situation where a doctor, during an examination, confirmed the presence of the initial stage of caries, but refused to treat it according to the standard regimen. Why is this happening? The thing is that during drilling of dentin, much more hard tissue is damaged than it seems at first glance. But it is impossible to install a seal without drilling.
Trying to avoid unnecessary destruction of the crown, the doctor does not want to drill into black caries at the spot stage. Very often its dimensions do not change at all for a long time. The spot itself does not cause a person any discomfort. If you brush your teeth thoroughly after each meal, use high-quality toothpaste and remineralizing dental gel, you can maintain caries at its original size for several years, that is, avoid its increase.
Therefore, if the dentist says that there is no need to touch the tooth yet, you should listen to his words. This is a way to preserve hard tissues without changing their volume for the coming years.
