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Dentistry/Graying tooth

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Expert: - 3/1/2009


Question
QUESTION: About 4 weeks ago my on knocked his front teeth running into a wall.  Now one of his top front teeth has a gray tint.  Is the tooth dead?  Can it be saved?

ANSWER: You don't indicate the age of your child or if this is a baby tooth or a permanent tooth.  Assuming this is a baby tooth it appears that the tooth may now be non-vital but with proper treatment it should be able to be saved.  A dentist who is experienced in the treatment of children (not all dentists are) should be able to assess the status of the tooth with an examination and x-ray picture and advise you of the necessary treatment.  In some cases delaying this treatment can result in infection and abcess, loss of the baby tooth and damage to the developing permanent tooth so treatment should be pursued without delay.

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QUESTION: My child is 12 and this is a permanent tooth.

Answer
Okay...slightly different answer.  The tooth will probably require a root canal treatment.  This should be determined as soon as possible with an examination and x-ray by your dentist or a root canal specialist called an endodontist.  The darkened color of the tooth indicates that the nerve or pulp has been damaged and is probably non-vital.  It will begin to deteriorate (the dark color is already evidence of that deterioration) and can become infected causing pain, swelling and abcess.  The tooth can definitely be saved unless the root itself was fractured in the accident and the sooner the root canal treatment is done the better the chance of success and the less chance of pain, swelling and infection.

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Dr. Randolph Myerson

Expertise

Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.

Experience

I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.

Organizations
I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.

Education/Credentials
I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.

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