Depending on the cause, you may notice that your teeth are stained yellow, brown, white, grey, or even green. This not only prevents the appearance of a gray tooth, it also protects the tooth so you won’t be forced to one day have it pulled. This antibiotic produces a slate gray if used during pregnancy. The picture-perfect smiles you see on movie stars and models are often due to veneers. [2], Teeth may turn grey following trauma-induced pulp necrosis (death of the pulp). You can read here to see – 9 causes of tooth discoloration. You don’t suddenly develop a cavity or rotten tooth because of a fall. [6] At the core of the tooth is soft connective tissue termed the dental pulp. 25 Tooth discoloration can range from white spots to yellow, to dark brown, to gray generalized discoloration. Anything that cuts off blood flow to the tooth can result in the tooth dying and going gray. The tooth is discolored because it is avital (dead). It’s also possible for babies to eventually have issues with their teeth if their mom’s take medication while they are pregnant. It’s the living tissue that helps the tooth develop and it’s the part that causes pain when you develop an infection or drink an icy cold beverage. Baby teeth (deciduous teeth) are generally whiter than the adult teeth that follow, again due to differences in the ratio of enamel to dentin. 2. Composite fillings are tooth colored and your dentist will do their best to match your natural tooth shade. [11], Causes of intrinsic discoloration generally fall into those that occur during tooth development and those acquired later in life. ", Hereditary benign intraepithelial dyskeratosis, Neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tooth_discoloration&oldid=999380078, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Certain foods and drinks. Boutsioukis et al. For instance, if you have a cavity filled with a silver filling, there’s a chance you’ll be able to see the filling color through the side of the tooth. Internal resorption may sometimes follow dental trauma (although in other cases it appears unrelated). and learn more about the Emergency Dentists USA editorial team here. Modern cosmetic dentistry makes it easier than ever to correct discoloration of teeth. The teeth also bleed internally like any other part of the body. Blood will leak through the dental nerves and cause discoloration of tooth pulp. D. Body by- product Bilirubin blue-green, brown Hemoglobin gray , black E. Pulp changes Pulp canal obliteration yellow Pulp necrosis With hemorrhage gray, black Without hemorrhage yellow, gray-brown 16. Discoloration was present in nine teeth and transient discoloration in eight of these teeth. [21] The drug is able to chelate calcium ions and is incorporated into teeth, cartilage and bone. Several genetic disorders affect tooth development (odontogenesis), and lead to abnormal tooth appearance and structure. It’s important to focus first on whether there is a functional problem, but once you’ve established your tooth needs no medical treatment, you can focus on how to restore the color of the tooth to normal. [19] This appearance is sometimes termed "pink tooth of Mummery". teeth (12%) of the cases. You dont suddenly develop a cavity or rotten tooth because of a fall. The process can be triggered by events such as trauma, or needing to or having had root canal treatment. Tooth discoloration due to antibiotics administered during pregnancy or before the age of 8. [1] One such condition is hemolytic disease of the newborn (erythroblastosis fetalis). Intrinsic Discoloration Intrinsic discoloration can range in color from gray to brown, and occurs when your child has suffered a concussion injury or a blow to the tooth. Baby teeth seem to take several months to lighten, usually around six months or so. A tooth is considered dead when the nerve no longer functions. If you’re concerned about a gray tooth, you can speak to your dentist or schedule a consultation to talk about your whitening options. You may notice yellow, brown, or gray stains appear on the surface of the teeth. What Are The Two Types of Tooth Discoloration. It’s possible for teeth to die. Secondary dentin is darker and more opaque than primary dentin. Tooth discoloration of yellow, brown, or gray occurs when used within the second and third trimester during pregnancy, during nursing, or during childhood under the age of eight. In the early stages of discoloration, the shine fades and teeth begin to look sticky or greasy. It is much like superficial veins that look blue under your skin.”, editorial guidelines by clicking this link, Improving Oral Health For Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease Or Related Disorders (ADRD). The enamel is fragile, the teeth appear yellow or brown, and surface stains build up more readily.[1]. Darkening of the tooth will continue over several days, weeks or even months if not checked. Tooth discoloration is abnormal tooth color, hue or translucency. Antihistamines (like Benadryl®), antipsychotic drugs and antihypertensive medications also can cause teeth discoloration. The blood leaks in through the dental nerves and discolors the pulp of the tooth. Often you also remember that you have had a blow to the tooth in the past or that you fell on it. As a professional with decades of experience in content marketing and web development, Mike is passionate about providing a better resource for those in need of emergency dental care. Public opinion of what is normal tooth shade tends to be distorted. [2] This becomes apparent when the adult tooth erupts into the mouth.[2]. In addition to tetracycline, gray teeth can also be caused by: Dentinogenesis Imperfecta : This condition is a disorder that impacts tooth development and causes teeth to become discolored and translucent. [20] Ingestion during the years of tooth development causes a yellow-green discoloration of dentin, which is visible through the enamel and fluorescent under ultraviolet light. Enamel is damaged when we eat a lot of acidic foods and drink soda and juice that contain a lot of acid. Most commonly, tooth darkening occurs as a natural effect of aging. However, you can prevent tooth discoloration with regular professional cleaning and good home care, which includes brushing, flossing and rinsing your mouth with water after having wine, coffee, tea, or other drinks that may stain the teeth. Foods, such as vegetables, that are rich with. Accidental injury to the tooth can cause pulpal and dentinal degenerative changes that alter the color of the teeth (see Figure 1.14). A tooth turning grey following an injury is a sign that the tooth is not receiving adequate blood flow. It also weakens the teeth, putting them at risk for damage, breakage, and loss. In most cases, the extent of discolouration of the tooth after trauma is usually determined by the severity of the shock or injury. In most cases, the only way you’ll need to treat the tooth for function is if it develops an infection or if problems arise later on for that tooth. In addition to fixing discoloration, porcelain veneers can also help if your teeth are chipped, cracked, broken, or crooked. 30. Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, are typically whiter than adult permanent teeth because they are more calcified. [6] Light hitting a tooth undergoes reflection, absorption and transmission by varying degrees in each tissue layer of the tooth substance. which examined the efficiency of two techniques for removal of WMTA from root canals also reported dark discoloration of most MTA fillings. When the human tooth is discolored, it loses its natural translucency, hue or color (Hargreaves and Berman, 2015). Pulpal hemorrhage may occur, giving the tooth a gray, nonvital appearance (Nathanson and Parra 1987). Treating your teeth can also cause grayness. The cause of the discoloration is from an external source, rather than from an infection or another underlying health issue. When a tooth turns gray after a trauma or dental treatment like a root canal treatment, it usually doesnt mean much other than the tooth being a different color. This can cause our teeth to appear more gray or yellow rather than white. [18], Dental trauma may result in discolorations. [13], Fluorosis may occur when there is chronic and excessive exposure to fluoride during the years of tooth development. A trauma to a tooth, following either a fall or a blow, can make the tooth pink or even grey. [medical citation needed] Because tetracyclines cross the placenta, a child may have tooth staining if the drugs are administered during the mother's pregnancy.[23]. Normal primary teeth are white and generally brighter than permanent teeth. [12][22] Other drugs derived from tetracycline such as glycylcycline share this side effect. Why May a Damaged Tooth Turn Black or Gray? In addition, metallic fillings cast a shadow that can be visible through the tooth and make it appear darker. Other than the colour change, this condition is not usually harmful for the tooth. Baby teeth can become discolored for many reasons, including: The dentine's natural color cannot be altered. Portrayals of cosmetically enhanced teeth are common in the media. Dead teeth can create problems because the hollow space where the pulp once was can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria. This is a natural part of aging, but it doesn’t need to be as bad as it is for some people. Although tooth decay is the usual cause of your kid’s tooth turning grey, there are several other reasons that may lead to discoloration. Examples include iron (black stain), iodine (black), copper (green), nickel (green) and cadmium (yellow-brown). [5] Of these, the intrinsic pigmentation of a tooth is the most influential,[4] which in turn is determined by genetic and natural factors. Intrinsic discoloration generally requires one of the many types of tooth bleaching. Most discoloration is harmless and may or may not be of cosmetic concern to the individual. The known causes of intrinsic staining are listed below, however some causes are unknown. There are a few whitening options that can be used at home or administered in your dentist’s office. Aging. Tetracycline and its derivatives are capable of intrinsic discoloration (discussed below). Make sure you report any color changes, pain, or abscesses that develop to your dentist as soon as possible. When a tooth turns gray after a trauma or dental treatment like a root canal treatment, it usually doesn’t mean much other than the tooth being a different color. [18] Chronological, fine white bands of fluorosis may be seen that correspond to the times of high exposure to fluoride. [ More details, pictures...] This is where the dentin is resorbed and replaced instead by hyperplastic, vascular pulp tissue. The important thing to remember if you have concerns about graying teeth is that if you are bothered by the problem there are plenty of options available for correcting the problem. Discoloration of the front teeth is one of the most common reasons people seek dental care. 1. [2][3] Sometimes there are several different co-existent factors responsible for discoloration. Throughout life deposition of secondary dentin occurs along the internal walls of the pulp chamber. Did something happen and now your tooth enamel is off-color with a grayish hue? This condition where the tooth gets discolored or loses its natural tone is referred to as tooth staining or tooth discoloration. [23] This is possibly the result of exposure to tetracycline during odontogenesis,[23] however cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator has also been demonstrated to be involved in enamel formation, suggesting that the disease has some influence on tooth discoloration regardless of exposure to tetracyclines. Internal discoloration is due to absorption of pigment particles into tooth structure. The same range of factors are capable of staining the surface of restorations (e.g., composite fillings, porcelain crowns). And, if you’re forced to undergo root canal treatment and the nerve in the tooth is disabled, it might turn gray over time. As demineralization progresses, the various lesion eventually cavitates and the underlying brown color becomes visible. The damaged tooth must not end up becoming a dead tooth. Enamel hypoplasia and enamel hypocalcification are examples of defective enamel that potentially gives a discolored appearance to the tooth. The discoloration can affect an entire tooth, or the stains can appear in the form of horizontal bands (like stripes) that range from light to dark. Dental trauma is the most common cause of a grey tooth. It’s also possible for things that have nothing to do with your dental health directly to affect the color of your teeth. A dead front tooth can be recognized by a gray color. Discoloration of the tooth is a frequent consequence of trauma to a baby tooth. Application of two layers of DBA before using MTA may prevent tooth discoloration produced by both WMTA and GMTA. [4] Reflected light detected by the human eye determines the perceived appearance of a tooth.[4]. Root canals remove tooth pulp, which is the innermost part of a tooth. [18] More severe cases show severely hypoplastic patches of enamel, which are also prone to accumulation of surface stains. [17], Dental caries (tooth decay) begins as an opaque white spot on the surface of the enamel. Extrinsic discolorations are common and have many different causes. [13] Following luxation injuries red discoloration may develop almost instantly. [10] Management of tooth discoloration depends on the cause. The blood is then decomposed gradually and a blue-brown discoloration develops. If your doctor prescribes any medication while you’re pregnant and you’re concerned about your baby’s eventual dental health, make sure you ask about side effects. Or you may have spots on … In its mildest form, fluorosis appears as small opaque white flecks on the enamel surface. [4] Females generally have slightly whiter teeth than males, partly because females' teeth are smaller, and therefore there is less bulk of dentin, partially visible through the enamel layer. Trauma also causes graying of … [2] This discoloration typically develops weeks or months after the injury and is caused by incorporation of pigments released during the breakdown of the pulpal tissue and blood into the dentin. [10] Some extrinsic discolorations that are allowed to remain for a long time may become intrinsic. Generalized brown or gray discoloration can be caused by changes that have occurred within a tooth's nerve space. Tooth color varies according to race, gender and geographic region. 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