Discoloration of A Non-Vital Tooth: Resection of Dentin

Abstract

Tooth discoloration can occur due to enamel discoloration (colored plaque, demineralization, enamel hypoplasia, dental fluorosis, cracks) and dentin discoloration due to dye infiltration (endodontic treatment with resorcinol-formaldehyde, eugenol, trauma), due to pigmentation (tetracycline syndrome) and predentin reduction (trauma, age-related changes).

This article will discuss dentin discoloration due to resorcinol infiltration after endodontic treatment with obturation of the main canal with resorcinolformaldehyde paste. In this case, tooth discoloration occurs exclusively due to dentin infiltration with resorcinol, and the color of the enamel itself remains unchanged.

Tooth discoloration, among other methods, can also be liminated by resection of the stained dentin, replacing it with a dentin-colored composite, and restoring the predentin surrounding the tooth cavity, within the topographic limits according to age, with a bright shade of composite of increased opacity. Dentin resection is the method of choice, and the success of this technique for eliminating discoloration is confirmed by the author’s 40-year experience.