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Tooth That Has Changed Color After an Injury

After an injury, color changes to a tooth may occur rapidly or take several weeks to develop. A tooth may change color soon after an injury and later return to its normal color.

A baby tooth (primary tooth) that turns yellow usually does not need treatment. It may mean hardening in the inner core of the tooth (pulpal calcification) has occurred.

A gray, black, or pink color to a tooth may mean bleeding inside the tooth. Further evaluation by your dentist is needed.

After evaluation, treatment of a discolored tooth might include removal of the tooth (extraction), a root canal, or simply watching the tooth for a while.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer David Messenger, MD
Last Revised September 14, 2010

Last Revised: September 14, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & David Messenger, MD

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