My child's traumatized teeth have changed color - should I be worried?
Color Changes of Primary Teeth - Yellow/Pink/Gray/Black, from trauma
When your child's primary teeth are traumatized during an accident, a change of color is a common result. A few days or weeks after a traumatic incident, the affected tooth/teeth may begin to change color, ranging from yellow to dark gray. The color change can be quite subtle or very apparent (almost black). This color change is a result of damage to the pulp (neve) tissue inside your child's tooth during the accident. As the pulp is attempting to heal itself, we see the changes through a difference in tooth color. This is similar to skin bruising.
Treatment for a color change of your child's tooth is most often simply observation of the tooth. Sometimes, the tooth can recover, and the color change will reverse itself, returning to almost the original appearance of the tooth. Other times, the color change may be permanent. At follow up appointments and during regular checkups, your child's tooth/teeth will be monitored for signs of pulpal changes. Partial or complete root canal treatment, if necessary, will be completed on his/her tooth/teeth.
This is a picture of a color change of a tooth associated with a dental abscess. The "pimple" or "bubble" seen above the tooth is an infection (abscess). If you see this in your child's mouth, call our office for an appointment. In most cases, the tooth will have to be extracted. Lack of treatment can lead to more serious problems including damage to the permanent dentition and facial swelling.