The teeth play a crucial role in dental care. A healthy tooth has numerous layers, including enamel, dentin, and pulp. The enamel is the outermost and strongest layer of the tooth. The pulp, located in the inner part of the tooth, contains all the necessary tissues and vessels for dental treatment and to keep the tooth alive.
The pulp, which contains the nerve tissue and blood vessels, is vital for the health of teeth. However, if the pulp becomes injured or infected, it can lead to serious health problems. Dead teeth can be treated with root canal therapy, a common dental treatment that helps to restore dental health and prevent further complications. Proper dental care is essential to maintain the health of the teeth and prevent issues like dead teeth.
In this article, we will look at those things that can injure the pulp and the common symptoms of dead tooth. You will also learn how to identify this dental condition, how it can be treated and prevented for good oral health. It is important to consult a professional dentist if you suspect any issues with your teeth or gums, as they can help diagnose and treat gum disease effectively.
What is dead tooth?
A dead tooth, also known as necrotic pulp or non vital, occurs when the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth’s pulp decay due to a lack of nutrients and oxygen. Oral surgeons can help alleviate the pain caused by a dead tooth.
However, having dental problems with the name “Dead Tooth” does not actually mean that the tooth is not important and functional just like every other dentist-approved healthy teeth. A non vital tooth may still remain functional, but it’s not advisable to keep them though. As we continue on this article, you will get to know some of the health risks associated with decay in a dead tooth. But first before that, let me show you some of the common symptoms and signs to identify a dead tooth that may cause pain.
Symptoms of dead tooth
Well, it’s not always easy to know whether your teeth are dead or not. A dying tooth pulp may not cause pain and may not be easily identified just by looking at it, especially at the early stage. But a dental professional can tell you for sure if you need treatment, this is one of the reasons why it’s so important to visit a dentist regularly for frequent professional dental check-ups.
If you suspect you have dental problems such as a dead tooth, there are two main symptoms to look for. The first two symptoms that I mentioned below are the main symptoms of a dead tooth. It is important to consult a dentist for proper treatment.
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Pain: extreme tooth pain and sensitivity are the first two, common indicator that your tooth is dead. The pain can be so excruciating because of the periodontal membrane which contains exposed highly sensitive nerve endings around the tooth. The pain can become more intense with the increased number of bacteria, dead nerve remnants, or pus inside the pulp cavity.
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Discoloration: there is usually a change of tooth when the living part of the pulp are dying or dead due to the lack of blood supply. The tooth may change to different colors as it dies. At first the tooth might change to yellow, then to gray, and eventually to black. The black coloration is usually caused by the accumulated remnants of the dead tissues at the pulp cavity.
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There are also other symptoms that you can experience as the tooth becomes more infected or abscesses. You may also experience other symptoms such as foul smell from the tooth, bad taste in the mouth, inflamed sores on the gums and also swelling of the periodontal membrane around the tooth.
Causes Of Dead Tooth
1.Tooth Decay: Tooth decay usually begins on the tooth’s outermost layer, without proper treatments it can result to cavities which can penetrate into deeper layers of the tooth. Once cavities have eventually gotten to the pulp, it creates pathway for bacteria to have access to the tooth pulp. The presence of bacteria in the pulp increases pressure inside the pulp cavity, the blood flow will eventually stop and the nerves will starve.
Although tooth trauma can cause tooth death, the white blood cells will try to fight off the infection with an inflammatory reaction. But without help, the vital teeth’s nerves will eventually die.
2. Dental Trauma: a physical trauma to the tooth maybe as a result of sports injury or a fall can make the blood vessels to burst. The injury can result in a loss of blood flow and the eventual death of the nerve and other living tissues within the pulp.
Treatments for dead tooth
Dead or dying tooth is not something that you should ignore. If you suspect that you have a dead or dying tooth, don’t hesitate to see a dental professional. The tooth might be painless at the start, but it could become extremely painful overtime.
However, there are steps that can be taken to possibly save the teeth or at least keep them from becoming infected. During dental treatments, the dentist will diagnose the teeth in order to determine the extent of the damage inside and the best way to repair them. Here are the available treatment options for dead teeth.
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Tooth extraction: extraction will be recommended if the damages on the tooth are too severe that the dentist can’t save the tooth. Early detection and treatments for death tooth is always very important. Tooth extraction is a relatively cheap standard procedure that can be done quickly with little or no discomforts. Although, the price for the procedure will be very high if you want to replace that tooth with a prosthetic tooth. You can check here to see – the cost of tooth extraction.
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Root Canal: root canal treatment is very effective for treating dead tooth, provided that the tooth is not broken. The procedure involves a deep cleaning of the inside of a tooth to remove infected tissue or abscess, removal of the pulp, and cleaning of the tooth canals. The main aim of having a root canal treatment is to clear out infected and dead tissues from the tooth canal. After the root canal treatment, a dental crown can be fitted on the tooth in order to add strength and support to the tooth.
Prevention
Having healthy teeth and gums is essential to your overall health. There are varieties of minerals and vitamins that your teeth and gums needs to stay healthy. Try to eat healthy meals which contains most of the necessary nutrients and minerals required for general maintenance of your teeth and oral tissues. Taking enough fruits and vegetables can help to ensure that your teeth get adequate nutrition. Read here to see – ways to strengthen your tooth enamel.
Practicing a good oral hygiene and habits can play a significant role in the prevention of dead tooth. Regular professional dental cleaning and examinations plus daily flossing and brushing will help to lower the risk of developing cavities and dead tooth. However, physical dental trauma can’t always be avoided, wearing a gum shield or mouth guard is usually recommended when playing sports. If you grind your teeth at night, you might as well consider a wearing nighttime mouth guard or you can try other treatments to stop teeth grinding(Bruxism).
In addition, avoid frequent chewing on ice or opening anything with your teeth as they can make your teeth to crack. Remember, bacteria can also enter the pulp through a cavity or crack in the tooth’s exterior. If your tooth is cracked or broken, you should seek for proper treatments before it leads to more serious health issues.
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