I took a nasty fall a while back and now some of my top and bottom teeth are turning black. Do and need to get dental crowns or remove them and get false teeth? Is there any way these teeth can still look nice? One of the teeth seems to be in the wrong place too. Could it be put back in the right place?
Michelle
Dear Michelle,
When a tooth begins to turn black after a traumatic injury, it means the nerve tissue inside your tooth has died. Usually, when that happens you would get a root canal treatment. There are ways to make the teeth look whiter from the inside, but not many dentists know that procedure.
While most dentists are taught to place crowns on a tooth that has had a root canal treatment, the biting forces on your front teeth are a bit different. On those teeth, I would recommend you get porcelain veneers.
Either way, you are going to need a skilled and artistic cosmetic dentist. Your front teeth are the first things people will notice about your smile. I would recommend you find a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry to work on those teeth. AACD accredited dentists have proven technical skill as well as artistry.
As for the displaced tooth, surgery is generally only successful if done immediately following the injury. If I understand you correctly, your injury was from some months back, at least. If that is the case, surgery would not be a good option for you. That particular tooth may not be saveable.
If that is the case, the best replacement option for you is to get a dental implant. This is the most secure option and the closest to having a healthy natural tooth again.
Bear in mind that neither cosmetic dentistry nor dental implants are really taught in dental school. You will need to find a dentist who has invested in the post-doctoral training necessary to do them well. Start with finding the AACD accredited dentist, then you can see which of those has dental implant training in addition to their cosmetic training.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.
