Porcelain Veneers: Q&A
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What Is The Best Option For A Dead Front Tooth?
My dentist sent me to a specialist who performs root canals. This dentist told me that my tooth has calcified and he cannot perform a root canal. All of my other teeth are healthy and straight. Should I consider a veneer or crown for this front, top tooth? Will it be possible to match it to my other teeth?
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15 Doctor Answers |
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Tennessee Volunteer
in Knoxville, TN
+3
Calcified Tooth
A good root canal specialist (endodontist) isn't going to do a root canal unless you need one. This may depend on whether or not you have symptoms and what the x-rays show. If a tooth is too calcified to treat with a normal root canal, then a surgical procedure called an apicoectomy would usually be the next step.
While it can be more difficult to match a single front tooth to it's neighbors color wise, it's certainly possible to do and do well. Once endodontic treatment is...
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Dark Front Tooth
The single dark front tooth is the most difficult cosmetic procedure that a dentist can perform. It is tough enough to match a single porcelain crown to a natural tooth, having a dark base makes this even more difficult.
Masking a dark tooth with a single porcelain veneers is challenging because porcelain veneers are thin and do allow some light to pass through. This will result in a tooth that looks gray or "off" compared to the others. Some dentists try to block out the darkness...
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Dead front tooth
If there is no infection in your tooth and it is simply calcified, you will probably be fine without a root canal. If the tooth is cosmetically unacceptable, then a single veneer should be a possibility. Make sure you find a good cosmetic dentist who has the ability to correctly match a single tooth because this can be a difficult case.
Omaha Cosmetic Dentist
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Porcelain Crown or Veneer for a Dead Tooth
I am assuming that this tooth has discolored and that is your reason for your restorative options. I would say that after your evaluation by an endodontist it is probably not necessary for a root canal. An all porcelain crown would be a great option for this situation for two reasons. Aesthetically, your crown can be matched exactly to the other teeth around it. Also, the crown will help protect your tooth against fracturing since the canal is calcified and there is...
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A Good Foundation for a Healthy Smile
Before you consider the restorative solution for this tooth, you need to resolve the need for root canal. If the tooth hurts to chew on, you have spontaneous pain or there are radiographic signs of pathology, you will need to treat that first. If the tooth is calcified as you say, be sure the endodontist evaluates it under a microscope. Using ultrasonics and magnification, most calcified canals can be located and treated successfully. If that technique is not successful then...
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Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist
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Options for A dead (dark) front tooth
First see and talk to the root canal specialist about the need for a root canal. If the danger of current or future infections or pain are present then get the root canal as it will save lots of grief. If the root canal is done, this may open up the possibility of an internal bleach which may solve any darkness issues with out further restoration other then a filling. The concern about an all porcelain veneer over a dark tooth with an untreated nerve problem is that the...
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Mesa Cosmetic Dentist
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Best Option for a Dead Front Tooth?
Teeth often change color when either traumatized or the nerve goes bad. The dark color usually indicates the necessity of a root canal followed by either iternal bleaching fo the tooth or a crown. If it is a front tooth. dentists will generally indicate that both front teeth should be crowned in order to have an exact match of the most looked a teeth in the mouth! The tooth not requiring a root canal can be veneered which is a more conservative approach to restoring the...
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Jacksonville Cosmetic Dentist
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What to do with a dark front tooth
If there is no symptoms, and no infection, or if infection that might be present has not enlarged or stayed dormant year after year, and the only concern is aesthetics. Then a veneer is a great option. Even if you need Apicoectomy( treating the infection at root level) , it has nothing to do with the veneer. If root canal for whatever reason is done with EDTA, or other dissolving material , it can be done from the tongue side (lingual) of the tooth. So , it all depends on the...
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Dead teeth can be dark in color
If appearance is the only concern, then root canal therapy would not be needed. If infection was present, then a procedure called apicoectomy can be done, or extract and place an implant.
I am going to assume that it was merely discolored. Bleaching likely won't work, and internal bleaching should only be done if a root canal has been completed. Even though the endodontist could not see a canal, it is likely there microscopically. The LAST thing you should do...
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Options for discolored front tooth
Unless the tooth is otherwise very unhealthy or out of alignment, I would recommend a veneer over a crown -- the crown requires too much reduction of your natural tooth. Even though matching one front tooth is one of the most difficult procedures we do in dentistry, I have had great success with this procedure -- I just make sure that the patient understands that there may be more than 3 or 4 visits required to get it "just right".
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Try Internal Whitening On A Dead(Calcified) Front Tooth
Teeth that are calcified usually don't need root canals. Decalcified teeth can turn dark. Your options should include whitening from the outside AND TRY WHITENING FROM THE INSIDE (Internal Whitening). Interview dentists and find someone willing to do this for you!! Veneers are an option but are difficult to do and may turn dark over time. Much success.
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Options for a Calcified Tooth
If the tooth has never had symptoms other than looking calcified on xray then the odds are favorable it will be with you long term. I have seen many of these over the years where essentially your body has done the root canal for you! In that casse a veneer would be the first choice of treatment and a good cosmetic dentist should be able to achieve an acceptable match.
If the tooth has had symptoms and looks infected on xray, then an implant and crown could be considered to...
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Treating the Calcified Tooth
If you saw a specialist, then we must assume the tooth is in need of endodontic therapy. Sometimes a damaged tooth root will calcify. This means that the canal has been blocked by calcium deposits. In many cases, a special chemical can be used to break up these deposits so that the canal can be instrumented. When this is not possible, the tooth needs to be treated from the root tip end in a surgical procedure.
You should have the infection involving this tooth...
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Springfield Cosmetic Dentist
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Calcified front tooth, what should I do?
When a tooth is calcified an endodontist in many cases is able to treat the case. You stated that the endodontist is unable to treat the tooth. If the tooth is asymptomatic ( no abscess or pain) then you should be able to successfully veneer the tooth to change the color of it. I would opt for a veneer before a crown but a lot of it depends on how dark the tooth below is. Consult a cosmetic dentist to see wha your options are.
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Fixing one front tooth
I will assume from your question that your dentist either found out your tooth was "dead" from a routine xray, or your tooth was turning gray/dark, and your dentist investigated the cause.
If the color of the tooth hasn't changed, and you are pleased with the appearance of your front tooth, then no other treatment is required at this time.
If the tooth is dark, and you wish to fix that, you can do so with a veneer or crown. The difficulty is always in...
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Ottawa Cosmetic Dentist
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