If the therapeutic treatment included the removal of the nerve (depulpation), then the risk of discoloration of the tooth is increased. The pulp is not just nerve fibers, it contains a dense network of blood vessels that feed enamel and dentin. After its removal, metabolism in hard tissues stops, the enamel fades, changing color.

So, if you have blackened dental fillings on your teeth, this may be due to:

• staining of the pulp with improperly selected filling materials;
• the development of caries (including secondary);
• traumatic impact;
• violation of the canal obturation technique;
• pulp necrosis.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to accurately predict how the tooth will “behave” after treatment. Even if the filling of the canal and the restoration of the tooth crown are performed flawlessly, the possibility of darkening of the filling remains. This does not mean that the doctor did a bad job. The fact is that the dental nerve is not capable of regeneration, tissues deprived of nutrition always differ in appearance from living ones. Whether darkening occurs or not depends not only on the actions of the dentist, but also on the individual anatomical and physiological characteristics of the patient’s oral cavity, his immunity, and hygiene. X-ray examination is very informative in this regard, which provides information about the state of the channels and the degree of their filling.

What else can cause a tooth filling to darken?

• Abuse of coloring products. Especially fresh fillings “do not like” tea, coffee, colored carbonated drinks. In addition, they contain sugar in their composition, which accelerates the development of caries. Of course, filling materials are designed to be resistant to food coloring, but their too frequent presence in the diet reduces the aesthetics of any dental structures.
• Smoking. A lot has been said and written about the general dangers of smoking; we will focus on the aspect that interests us. The passage of tobacco smoke through the oral cavity provokes the deposition of resins, organic acids, alkaloids and even radioactive substances. Not only do these substances have a very negative effect on the condition of the teeth and gums, they worsen the appearance of dental restorations and slow down the engraftment of implants.
• Fluorosis. Take an interest in the quality of water in the region where you live! Perhaps the increased level of fluoride in drinking water or foods is to blame. It causes dark spots on the teeth (whether there are fillings or not). Most likely, the spots will be multiple, the entire dentition is affected.
• Insufficient hygiene. The fact that the tooth was cured and sealed is not a guarantee that secondary caries will not develop. He can choose another surface as the place of his appearance, causing the blackening of the tooth under the filling during progression. The cariogenic situation in the oral cavity develops with irregular or insufficiently thorough cleaning, after which hard and soft plaque remains.The first thing to do if a filling on a tooth has turned black is to contact a dentist who, based on clinical data and the results of an x-ray, will suggest ways to solve the problem. A darkened tooth should not be left unattended – complications may develop up to its loss and damage to surrounding tissues. The choice of treatment tactics depends on the cause that caused the blackening.

   

  Please feel free to call us if you are looking for professional and Affordable Dentistry of Coral Springs at (786) 440-4948.