Dead Tooth Treatment, Causes and Symptoms

A good blood supply to the tooth keeps nerve endings active and strengthens its structure. Your smile looks beautiful with healthy teeth. On the other hand, a tooth is dead when nerves are dead, and the blood supply is stopped. This happens because of tooth decay, an infection that is left untreated, or an injury. Dead tooth treatment is necessary because if left untreated, it can lead to:

• Pain,
• Discolouration
• and serious oral health problems.

In-depth Description of Dead Tooth

Inside all teeth, soft tissues are present that contain blood vessels and nerves. This tissue is known as the tooth pulp. A healthy pulp keeps the tooth alive by providing nutrients needed by the tooth and sending signals like pain to nerve endings through a network of nerves in it. Due to an injury, tooth decay, or any tooth infection, the blood supply to the tooth pulp can be interrupted. When this blood supply is completely blocked, the nerves sending signals die. Although from the outside the structure of the tooth may seem alright initially but from the inside the tooth is dead

Signs of a dead tooth appear if it is not treated, like:

• Tooth discoloration causes turning tooth into yellow, gray, or even black.
• It may also become more fragile,
• prone to infections,
• and easier to break down because it no longer gets nourishment.
• Some chronic problems may develop in the future, like the development of abscesses or bone loss around the tooth.

Why Does a Tooth Die?

There are two main reasons this happens:

Tooth Decay (Cavities)

Deep cavities are also one of the reasons that lead to a dead tooth condition. Without proper routine cleaning of teeth, plaque deposits on teeth, within which bacteria survive and start eating teeth, creating holes in the strong outer structure of teeth. This is what we call tooth decay or a tooth cavity. If this issue remains unresolved, the bacteria travel deep into the tooth pulp, which consists of blood vessels and nerves that provide nourishment to the tooth. Bacteria that enter the pulp start to develop an infection, which causes inflammation. As the infection gets worse, pressure builds up inside the tooth, cutting off the blood supply. Without blood flow, the nerve dies, and the tooth becomes “dead.”

Tooth Trauma (Injury)

An injury to the tooth can happen for many reasons, like:

• Due to a fall,
• a hit to the face,
• or a sports injury

Such accidental injuries can damage the blood vessels inside the tooth. Even if the tooth doesn’t crack or break, the force from the impact can interrupt blood flow to the pulp. Without enough blood, the nerve slowly dies, and the tooth may start to change color or feel different. Sometimes, you might not feel any pain right away, but the tooth can still be dying silently on the inside.

Symptoms of a Dead Tooth

Let’s jot down signs of a dead tooth you should be aware of:

Tooth Discoloration

• A healthy tooth is usually white or off-white.
• A dead tooth can start to change color, turning yellow, gray, brown, or even black.
• This happens because the tissues inside the tooth start to break down, and the discoloration shows through the enamel.
• It may start subtly but become darker over time.

Pain or Discomfort

• You may feel pain that comes and goes, or a constant ache.
• This pain isn’t from the nerve inside the tooth (because it’s dead), but from the infection or pressure building up around the root.
• Pain may be mild or severe, and sometimes it worsens when you bite or chew.

Tooth Sensitivity

• A dead tooth may still feel sensitive to hot or cold foods, or when pressure is applied (like when chewing).
• In some cases, it may feel numb or have no sensitivity at all, which can also be a sign of nerve damage or death.

Bad Taste or Bad Breath

• If there is an infection inside the dead tooth, it can create pus that leaks out into the mouth.
• This can cause a bad taste that doesn’t go away even after brushing.
• It may also lead to chronic bad breath, even if your oral hygiene is good.

Swelling or Abscess

• An untreated dead tooth can cause a dental abscess, which is a pocket of pus.
• You may see a small pimple-like bump on the gums, which may burst and release pus.
• The area around the tooth may become red, swollen, or tender, and you might feel swelling in your jaw or neck if the infection spreads.

Why a Dead Tooth Is Serious

After noticing infected tooth symptoms, you should immediately consult a dentist. This is because it can damage your tooth and lead to serious health problems if not treated in time. Here’s why you shouldn’t ignore it:

Infection Can Spread

The bacteria survive inside a dead tooth that can make an infection even more severe, affecting the gums, then the jawbone and teeth around it. Under severe conditions, if treatment is still not provided, the infection can enter the bloodstream, reach other body parts, and cause serious health issues.

The Tooth Becomes Weak and Brittle

When the blood circulation towards the tooth is disconnected and nerves are also dead, the tooth gradually loses its strength and flexibility because it is not receiving the nutrition it needs. Due to this tooth can crack, chip off, or break easily while biting or chewing something. The cracked tooth can injure your tongue or inner lining of your mouth, so dead tooth treatment or its complete removal is immediately needed.

Ongoing Pain and Discomfort

The dead nerve itself doesn’t feel pain, but the infection around it can cause serious discomfort. You may experience:

• Constant toothache,
• Swollen gums,
• Headaches
• Jaw pain.

As pressure builds inside the tooth or around the roots, the pain can suddenly get worse.

How a Dentist Diagnoses It

When you visit a dentist for a dead tooth treatment, he first gives a visual examination. The dentist looks at the tooth for signs like discoloration, swollen gums, or sores around it. Afterwards, he carries out the following tests:

• Sensitivity Test
  They gently apply heat or cold to the tooth to see if the nerve reacts.
• X-ray
  An X-ray test is done to see the internal condition of a tooth, like:

1. To what extent does infection inside the tooth develop?
2. Damage to the root
3. Bone loss.

• Tapping Test
  The dentist taps the tooth lightly to check if it hurts, which could mean there’s an infection or pressure in the area

Dead Tooth Treatment Options

For a dead tooth treatment, there are two options depending on the extent of tooth damage.

Root Canal Treatment

Dentists do a root canal for a dead tooth when the outer structure is still strong enough. It is the best way to save the tooth.

What happens in the procedure is that a dentist:

• Removes the dead pulp inside your tooth, which is a soft tissue (the pulp) that includes nerves and blood vessels. Taking out the dead pulp completely is necessary to prevent infection from spreading further.
• Cleans the space inside carefully after removing the pulp, then shapes the hollow space (called the root canal) where the pulp used to be.
• Seals and fills the space once it’s clean with a safe dental material to prevent bacteria from getting in again.
• Adds a crown on top because a dead tooth becomes weak and brittle. This helps protect it and makes it look and work like a normal tooth again.

The benefits of root canals are:

• You keep your natural tooth.
• You avoid tooth gaps.
• It prevents infection from spreading.
• It’s usually less expensive in the long run than replacing a lost tooth.

Extraction

If the dead tooth is too damaged, badly infected, or cracked so that it is not possible to repair, then the only option left is to remove the tooth. The area from which the tooth will be removed is numbed by injecting local anesthesia. The dentist then gently extracts the tooth (pulls it out).

Tooth extraction stops the infection from spreading to nearby teeth, your gums, or even your jawbone. After removal, your dentist will suggest a tooth replacement because the gap created makes it hard to chew and speak, and may cause other teeth to shift. Options he will give you may include:

• A dental implant is a metal post placed in your jaw with a crown on top. It feels and looks like a real tooth.
• A dental bridge is a false tooth held in place by the teeth next to the gap.
• A removable replacement if multiple teeth are missing, i.e. denture.

Get It Examine Immediately

A dead tooth might not seem like a big deal at first, but it can lead to serious problems if left untreated. If you notice pain, swelling, a bad taste, or your tooth changing color, don’t wait because these could be signs of a dead tooth and infection. Getting help early can save your tooth and protect your overall health. For expert care and timely treatment, trust KLINIKA DENTAL CLINIC LLC – MULTISPECIALITY CLINIC, where your dental health and comfort are always a top priority.