A dead tooth is a tooth that no longer receives a fresh blood supply. Individuals with a dead tooth usually won’t feel any pain. However, you may notice a discoloration of the affected tooth. There are many causes of a dead tooth: trauma, dental injury or poor dental hygiene are just a few. If dental issues are left untreated, they can cause tooth decay and toothache.
Although it rarely causes serious pain in some sufferers, you need to be careful with this dental problem. A dead tooth can be dangerous as it can cause infection and affect other areas of your mouth and body. Well, how do you know if you have a dead tooth? Read on to learn how to identify a dead tooth, its causes and possible treatments.
Signs that you have a dead tooth
Teeth consist of 3 layers: enamel, dentin, and dental pulp. The dental pulp contains blood vessels and nerve tissue. If the nerves in the dental pulp are damaged, it can stop the blood supply to the tooth and result in infection and death of the tooth nerve.
Dead teeth can be seen from the discoloration of the blackened teeth. The discoloration happens because the tooth is no longer receiving a blood supply. Other symptoms of a dead tooth are tooth pain, bad breath, and swollen gums.
Treating dead teeth is generally done in two ways: root canal treatment or tooth extraction. Dentists can also do dental examinations using X-rays to look for decayed teeth.
Causes of a dead tooth
There are two leading causes related to the problem of dead teeth:
- Tooth decay due to improper treatment
- Dental trauma due to injury or accident
Tooth decay because of cavities
The first cause of a dead tooth is tooth decay. Poor dental hygiene can cause damage to the teeth, leading to tooth decay and causing cavities (dental caries). Infection and inflammation in the pulp can lead to the death of the tooth, and we don’t want that.
Decay starts happening at the outermost tooth or enamel and can penetrate the deeper tooth layers over time. If these cavities are left untreated, they will create a pathway for bacteria to gnaw into the tooth’s pulp.
Healthy pulp responds to inflammation caused by bacteria, resulting in toothache, and it can be pretty annoying. The pulp and white blood cells will resist infections caused by bacteria and fight bacteria by increasing the pressure inside the tooth cavity. This process will then cut off the blood supply and kill the dental pulp.
Dental trauma due to external factors
The second cause of a dead tooth is trauma. Dental trauma can happen due to sports injuries, falls, or accidents around the face and mouth. Injuries and accidents can cause blood vessels to burst and cut off the blood supply to the teeth. As a result, the nerves and living tissue in the pulp will die because they do not get a blood supply. The habit of grinding your teeth often can also cause trauma, increasing your risk of tooth decay.
Identifying the dead tooth
Detecting rotten or dead teeth just by looking at them can be challenging. A dentist can help you diagnose it (if any) during your regular dental check-up.
Moreover, patients usually do not feel any pain in the teeth. Pain in the dead tooth will only appear in some cases, such as an infection.
There are at least two symptoms of a dead tooth that can help you identify the condition of this dental health problem, including discoloration and pain due to infection.
Colour change
If the tooth is dead, there will usually be a colour change. The tooth becomes darker, turning yellow, gray, and black. Tooth discoloration occurs because the red blood cells in the teeth die (it is similar to what happens when your body is bruised). The discoloration of the teeth will increase from yellow to black if not treated by a dentist.
Pain and toothache
Another cause of decayed and dead teeth is the onset of pain, which varies in degree. The pain experienced does not come from inside the tooth but comes from the very sensitive nerve endings around the outside of the tooth, namely the periodontal membrane.
Bacteria and the remnants of dead nerves will collect in the pulp cavity inside the tooth, putting pressure on the periodontal membrane. This pressure is what causes pain to appear in the dead tooth.
Treatment options for a dead tooth
Share the symptoms you are experiencing with your dentist. The dentist will then examine for the dead tooth after performing an oral examination. The dentist might investigate using X-rays to look for decay in the teeth.
It is essential to treat the infected tooth as soon as possible. If left untreated, bacteria from a dead tooth can spread to other teeth and affect your jawbone and gums. There are two ways to treat this condition, namely by root canal treatment or tooth extraction:
Root canal (root canal treatment)
This procedure removes nerve tissue, blood vessel tissue, and areas of decayed teeth. After that, the doctor will check for infection and apply for root medicine. Installation of a false crown can also be done as a final stage.
Tooth extraction
The dentist might recommend tooth extraction if the tooth is badly damaged and treatment is impossible. After removal, you can replace your tooth with options such as dental implants or dentures.
Conclusion
It is vital to see your dentist immediately if you suspect tooth decay, a dead or dying tooth. Schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at Eastman Dental if you suspect an infection. If left untreated, a dead tooth will cause many long-term problems. The infection from a dead tooth can negatively affect the surrounding teeth and structures. Early treatment can help prevent complications; therefore, it is essential to know if you have a dead tooth.