Discoloration of the incisors

When you smile, eat or speak, it is the incisors that are visible. Beautiful teeth are one of the most important aesthetic aspects of a person and can give you a bright and sympathetic smile. This makes it all the more annoying when an incisor needs root canal treatment, because in addition to functional losses, aesthetic disadvantages due to discoloration are feared.

As a rule, the incisor retains its natural color after the treatment. In some cases, however, discoloration may occur due to metabolic products or the iron in the blood. However, this discoloration can be reversed with bleaching in order to match the color of the tooth to the other teeth.

The bleaching of the tooth is not done from the outside, but from the inside. For a successful whitening it is also important that the filling is completely sealed. For this purpose, a whitening inlay is placed in the tooth, the tooth is filled provisionally and the filling is left for some time.

Then the inlay is removed and a final filling is placed. The chances of success of such a treatment vary from patient to patient. The more thorough and orderly the root canal treatment was carried out, the less possible is a possible change in color. Nicotine, coffee and tea can cause discoloration from the outside. However, the cost of such a whitening treatment is not covered by health insurance.

Duration of the root canal treatment

If a tooth needs root canal treatment, several sessions at the dentist may be necessary. The removal of the pulp, the disinfection of the canal and the subsequent filling can be carried out in one treatment step, or it can be divided into two or more sessions. This depends on the individual situation of the patient and it is not possible to give any exact details.

The entire treatment can take weeks or even months. Also the respective process depends on the skill of the practitioner and the cooperation of the patient, as well as on the initial situation. Worse inflammations require a longer treatment.

On average, one hour of treatment per session can be expected. The duration of the healing process also varies from person to person. One body tolerates an intervention better and regenerates faster, another needs a longer healing phase.

Of course this again depends on the intervention and the initial situation. Smaller interventions heal faster. But you can actively support the healing process by allowing your body to rest and avoiding stress.

Also, the tooth should not be completely loaded immediately after the procedure, so that mushy food is recommended in the first days. Alcohol, nicotine and coffee should not be consumed until the complete healing process is complete, as they unnecessarily strain the tissue and can slow down the healing process. However, it is important to be patient and follow the doctor’s instructions, as the easier and faster the healing process will be. The healing process is evaluated in the control appointments so that any problems can be detected early. Usually the incisor can be loaded again after a few days.