Do all discolored primary incisors require treatment?
The gray discoloration of primary teeth is usually the result of a traumatic episode. This discoloration is due to either (1) hemorrhage into the dentinal tubules or (2) a necrotic puip. In the case of hemorrhage into the dentinal tubules, the discoloration usually appears within 1 month of the injury. Often the teeth return to their original color as the blood breakdown products are removed from the site. Discoloration due to a necrotic pulp may take days, weeks, months, or years to develop. It does not improve with time and in fact may worsen. A tooth that is light gray may progress to dark gray. A yellow opaque discoloration is usually indicative of calcific degeneration of the pulp. Discolored teeth do not require treatment unless there is radiographic and/or clinical evidence of pathology of the periodontium (soft and/or hard tissues). 85. How stable is the orthodontic correction of crowding? Approximately two-thirds of all patients treated for crowding experience significant rela
