A tooth that turns darker weeks after a crash
An endodontist and a general dentist talk through a discolored tooth
After a crash, a tooth can look fine and then change color weeks or months later. The blow may have hurt the soft tissue inside the tooth or its blood supply. Some injured teeth later die or get infected. Others stay healthy. [1, 2]
If a tooth turns gray, yellow, red or darker, call a dentist. Don’t assume the tooth is lost. Dental problems can also show up years after the first injury. [1, 2]
Describe how the tooth got hurt
Tell your dentist which tooth took the hit, whether it felt loose or shifted, and when the color changed. Mention pain when you bite, swelling or a bump on the gum. Also say if the tooth is sensitive to hot or cold. [2, 3]
The exam may include images and tests of how the tooth responds. One test done soon after the injury may not give the final answer. If you have older dental images, keep them. They make it easier to compare changes. [2, 3]
How the dentist decides
Your dentist looks for a pattern across several findings before deciding the pulp is dead or infected. The pulp is the soft tissue at the center of the tooth. If you need treatment, an endodontist may talk with you about a root canal and how to restore the tooth. An endodontist is a dentist who treats the inside of teeth. [2, 3]
If the tooth is being watched, ask for a written schedule of checkups. Find out what would change the plan. Do not use whitening products to hide a new color change before the cause is known. [2, 3]
When to call sooner
What to ask your dentist
- Is the pulp of my tooth healthy, injured or infected?
- What tests will you repeat, and when?
- What are my treatment choices if the pulp doesn’t recover?
Photograph the color change
Take a dated photo of the color change. Then set up a visit with your dentist. [1]
Sources and further reading
- 1East Kent Hospitals NHS, dental trauma
- 2American Association of Endodontists, traumatic dental injuries
- 3American Association of Endodontists, trauma treatment guidance
This is general information from endodontics and general dentistry. A change in color on its own can’t show whether a tooth needs a root canal. A dentist has to examine your tooth and keep track of it over time.
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