How do pulpless teeth typically appear after endodontic treatment?

After endodontic treatment, pulpless teeth generally exhibit a gray or dark coloration. This change in color occurs due to several factors related to the absence of vital pulp tissue and the subsequent reactions of the tooth structure to the treatment and environmental factors.

When the pulp is removed, the blood supply to the tooth is also lost, which can lead to a breakdown in the staining and color-enhancing properties that live pulp provides. As time passes, the affected tooth may become discolored due to internal staining from the breakdown of tooth tissues or from substances in the environment, including foods and beverages. The absence of the vital pink hue that typically characterizes healthy teeth further contributes to this darker appearance.

In contrast, the other options such as bright white, yellow, and translucent do not accurately represent the usual outcome for pulpless teeth. A bright white appearance would suggest healthy, vital tissue, while yellow may indicate a different issue such as extrinsic staining rather than the expected consequence of endodontic therapy. Translucent teeth can occur but are more characteristic of certain developmental issues or early enamel loss rather than the result of endodontic treatment.