Having a broken or cracked tooth can be really painful. There are a few reasons why your tooth can crack in half with no warning, fortunately there are available tooth repair treatments to fix a cracked tooth. The teeth enamel is the white outermost protective covering of teeth, it protects the soft inner sensitive parts of the teeth. The pulp is found at the core of the tooth right after the dentin, it’s the part of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels.
Well, there are plenty of factors that may cause a broken molar. A deep crack on a tooth usually leads to the exposure of the dentin. But what does it really mean that your tooth broke in half and you notice a black inside due to tooth decay?
Moreover, some patients may experience symptoms such as a foul taste and odor from their broken teeth. Some might also notice a color change, such as yellow, grey, or black discoloration of the dentin – the inner part of the tooth. So what could be the cause of this darkening? In this article, we’ll explore the common reasons why your tooth may have darkened and what steps to take if you notice that your broken tooth is black on the inside. It’s important to consult with a dental professional to address any concerns and maintain good oral health.
Tooth broke in half black inside
The common reason why your tooth may have darkened is because the nerves inside the tooth are dead. In dentistry, a tooth without a live nerve in it, is referred to as non vital by dental professionals. (1) It’s not always easy to figure out whether the nerves inside your tooth are dead or not, you may only know after the tooth had cracked open. It’s only a dental professional with the help of dental evaluation that can tell if any your teeth is dead.
However, a cracked tooth or a broken tooth due to tooth decay might not appear useless. They can still function like other healthy teeth. The only issue is the black discoloration and infections, as there are no living nerves within them.
Causes Of Dead Tooth
Just as we all know, oral health is crucial for the survival of every living tissue in the human body. In the case of a broken molar, the damaged tooth nerves may be cut off from blood flow due to inflammation or infections. Additionally, dental trauma, such as a hard knock on your tooth, can cause the blood vessels within to burst, resulting in loss of blood flow and eventual death of the nerves and other living tissues within the pulp.
In addition, a broken molar can cause pain. Without access to a dentist, bacteria will begin to feed on the decaying matter, giving it that distinctive black color. At this point, you may not know that you are walking around with a pocket of dead tissue in your mouth. Lots of bacteria can inhabit inside the broken molar, making you vulnerable to serious health problems. An untreated infected tooth could easily infect other teeth and other vital organs in the body by spreading through the blood.
If you notice that your cracked molar is causing pain, it’s important to see a dentist. Avoiding treatment could lead to the loss of other teeth and potential health problems. Dental procedures can fix the problem, so don’t panic if you see a black discoloration inside your broken tooth.
What to do if your broken tooth is black inside
The best action to take for a broken molar all depends on the severity of the damage. If left untreated, the bacterial infection from the broken molar can spread and cause damage to your body tissues. The best course of action is to see a dentist who will examine the tooth and determine the most appropriate treatment for your oral health. In dentistry, there are two solutions for a dying tooth: extraction or root canal treatment.
1. Root Canal: the root canal is a painless dental procedure that involves cleaning out of dead tissue and decay from the pulp of a damaged or decayed tooth. After the cleaning, the dental professional will have to replace the removed damaged or infected tissue with an inert substitute.
2. Tooth Extraction: although, no one wants to have his or her tooth removed, but sometimes it will be necessary. The thought of having your tooth pulled out plus the discomforts can be frightening. But tooth extraction may be necessary if it’s the only option left. Root canal is usually recommended if the damages on the tooth is not much, especially if your tooth is simply discolored. In some cases where a tooth is severely damaged that it can not be saved, then tooth extraction will be needed.
Tooth extraction procedure is a simple tooth removal process, it’s usually painless but it takes time to heal. In my previous post I explained more on – How long it takes to recover after extraction. You can also check here to see – the cost of tooth extraction. However, most patients would prefer to go for any other available alternative in order to avoid removing their teeth. You can also check here to see – 5 ways to repair a damaged tooth.