Dental News

Options for Making Teeth Look Great After a Root Canal

December 9, 2015

Our cosmetic dentists can make sure teeth that have had root canals continue to look natural and beautiful.

Options for Making Teeth Look Great After a Root CanalA root canal is an extremely beneficial treatment that can go a long way towards preserving the natural beauty and integrity of your smile. It allows severely damaged or decayed teeth to be cleaned up and stabilized so that you do not have to have them extracted.

However, over the years a tooth that has had a root canal may begin to look less natural and attractive, due to staining and/or changes in your mouth as you age. Fortunately, when this happens you can turn to the experienced cosmetic dentists at California Dental Group for help.

We will make a detailed examination of your tooth and then recommend various options that are appropriate for not only improving the appearance of the tooth, but also ensuring it remains strong and healthy. Possible options include:

Teeth Whitening: Depending on how much tooth structure was removed during your initial root canal treatment, you may not have had a full crown placed on the tooth. If this is the case, you will have natural tooth structure left showing near the gum line. This natural tooth structure could become discolored due to staining from food, coffee, or tobacco, or it might become dark due to the death of the tooth. Depending on the type of discoloration, professional teeth whitening treatments designed to lift deep staining could help improve the appearance of the tooth.

Bonding: Another possible option for covering up discoloration on a tooth that has had a root canal is to use dental bonding to cover the surface of the tooth. This is typically an inexpensive option, but you need to be careful to choose an experienced cosmetic dentist that can make the bonding look natural.

Veneers: Veneers can also cover up unattractive teeth, providing a more durable and more attractive solution than bonding. For a really good match, you may need to have veneers placed on all your teeth. Veneers are actually considered the best choice for front teeth that have had a root canal, because they protect against the horizontal stresses these teeth face better than crowns.

Full Crown: One final option for a molar or incisor that has had a root canal and now looks a bit worse for wear is to get a full crown for the tooth. This will require the tooth to be cut down to fit inside the crown, but it will also provide full protection for the tooth and there will be no natural tooth structure left visible.

To learn more about our recommendations for your particular case, please schedule an appointment with one of our skilled cosmetic dentists.

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