Discoloured Teeth
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Sometimes when a tooth is subjected to blunt trauma there can be haemorrhage within the pulp chamber. The blood can leak into the dentinal tubules causing discolouration of the tooth. This picture shows how subtle the colour difference can be. Compare the slight red/purple colour of the canine with the white teeth alongside it. |
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In most cases a discoloured tooth will have been killed by the trauma. Treatment is generally either extraction or a root canal filling. This owner decided on a root canal treatment. Cutting into the tooth demonstrates the way that the blood has leaked into the surrounding dentine. |
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The pulp contents were removed and the pulp chamber flushed for the root canal treatment. The contents were dead and starting to rot. Fortunately advances in the Internet do not yet support "smell-o-vision" otherwise we'd have to issue a warning with this slide. |
| The presence of rotting pulp contents within the tooth means that some degree of change and inflammation will occur at the root apex. Once infection becomes established a tooth root abscess is almost inevitable. It is fine to extract these teeth, but root canal treatment can allow them to be preserved. | |
As a rule - all discoloured teeth should be investigated.
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Did You Know?
Guineau Pig
Their incisor teeth are continually growing. Make sure they have plenty of dental exercise.
