western australia

root canal treatment

A black mark against me maybe

@JudyEv (351250)

Rockingham, Australia

March 8, 2025 12:08am CST

I went to the dentist a few weeks ago and all is good. I’d had a nagging feeling in one tooth and, as we are going away shortly, I didn’t want to wait to see if it got better on its own or not. Then I tried to see it in the mirror and was horrified to see a black mark up near the gum. I immediately thought ‘decay’ as what else could it be? It turns out the dark mark is from a root canal treatment that I had years ago. Over time, the materials used darken and that’s what’s causing the mark. The slight pain is from inflammation of the gum so I have to be sure and floss properly to remove any bits of food. I also find rinsing my mouth with hot, salty water helps. I’m vain enough to be pleased that the dark mark isn’t visible to others.

21 people like this

17 responses

@DaddyEvil (146097)

• United States

8 Mar

I'm glad you didn't have major problems when you had the root canal done. Thankfully, I've never needed one but Pretty had three root canals done by the same dentist. Around three weeks later, she started having pain in all three of those teeth. When the dentist checked them out, he discovered that all three teeth had to be pulled. Pretty was really not happy because one of the teeth was a front tooth. Now, she wants all her teeth pulled so she doesn't have a problem like that again.

3 people like this

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@DaddyEvil (146097)

• United States

9 Mar

@JudyEv You really were lucky, then.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

That's pretty awful. I know everyone dreads root canals but they didn't really worry me. I think I've had two and haven't had any problems since, touch wood.

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@marguicha (226084)

• Chile

8 Mar

I have had teeth problems latly. I´m in the first part of it. I know what it will cost but I have to make an appointment with the dentist so that they will start fixing it.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

We have dental insurance with our health insurance plan but it can still cost quite a bit.

1 person likes this

@marguicha (226084)

• Chile

9 Mar

@JudyEv In my country health insurances don´t cover dental problems. But health insurances make deals with dentists so that they cost less. Still it is a lot.

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@allknowing (144204)

• India

8 Mar

That title set me thinking

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@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

Haha - that was the idea!

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@allknowing (144204)

• India

9 Mar

@JudyEv I was expecting to read some kind of crime you may have commititied. (lol)

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@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

@allknowing It does sound as though I've been naughty! lol

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@franxav (14068)

• India

8 Mar

If there is pain I think you should take medical help . However, I too believe brushing and rinsing with a good toothpaste helps to keep teeth fine.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

I wanted to get it sorted before we went away. I like a dentist that I'm used to. But the tooth has been good since.

@Dreamerby (7889)

• Calcutta, India

8 Mar

Oh i didn't know the materials darken! I have one rct from the age of 10!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

I'm just pleased to find it was one towards the back and not a front tooth.

1 person likes this

@Dreamerby (7889)

• Calcutta, India

9 Mar

@JudyEv yeah that's a relief

1 person likes this

@Beestring (15240)

• Hong Kong

8 Mar

Yes, rinsing the mouth with saltwater helps.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

It's my 'go-to' for quite a few things.

1 person likes this

@GardenGerty (163145)

• United States

8 Mar

I hope that you are in good shape tooth wise for your travels now.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

Yes, thanks. My teeth are fine now. I was able to have a scale and clean at the same time so I should be right for six months now.

@snowy22315 (188097)

• United States

9 Mar

No one would want to wander around with a black mark on them.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Mar

Not on a visible tooth anyway.

1 person likes this

ultraman cosmos

@id_peace (15379)

• Singapore

8 Mar

I do have this problem as well. except that they exposed the metal that I have for planting of the tooth.

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ultraman cosmos

@id_peace (15379)

• Singapore

13 Mar

@JudyEv This remind me that I will need to seal the metal again

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@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

I was also told the metal was causing the mark.

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@FourWalls (73844)

• United States

9 Mar

Glad it’s nothing serious to spoil your holiday.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

That's what I was worried about. I hadn't noticed the black mark before and was expecting the worst.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (114826)

• Marion, Ohio

8 Mar

Glad it was nothing.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

Me too. I could hardly believe it when I saw the dark mark.

1 person likes this

@moffittjc (123812)

• Gainesville, Florida

8 Mar

Thankfully, it wasn't anything worse, and you will be able to go away on your trip without any lingering worries!

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@moffittjc (123812)

• Gainesville, Florida

16 Mar

@JudyEv That's great to hear that all is good.

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@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

17 Mar

@moffittjc Thanks.

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@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Mar

Yes, it's all good. I couldn't think what could possibly cause the black mark other than decay.

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@Ronrybs (20305)

• London, England

9 Mar

Glad it was nothing serious. I didn't know that material used could discolour over time. At least it is out of sight

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Mar

Apparently the amalgam(?) is placed over metal and that can wear away too and expose the metal. Yes, I'm glad it's not easilly visible too. Thanks.

1 person likes this

@grenery8 (16020)

• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)

9 Mar

i would also suspect the worst but i am glad it's from the material but not glad it scared you.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Mar

You can't easily see it so that's a good thing too. Thanks.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16900)

• China

8 Mar

I have been using floss since did a root canal treatment several years ago.It does help !

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

I floss too but find it really hard to get those back teeth.

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@Fleura (31487)

• United Kingdom

8 Mar

Teeth are important for eating, obviously, but also for appearance and even the structure of the face! Glad it was good news.

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@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

I was very relieved and now I know what it is, I can stop worrying about it. You can't see it normally so that's good.

1 person likes this

@Deepizzaguy (108854)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

8 Mar

That is good to know that the dark mark from a root canal treatment will not be visible.

@JudyEv (351250)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Mar

I was able to get a scale and clean too so I'm right for a few months now.

1 person likes this

@Deepizzaguy (108854)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

9 Mar

1 person likes this