As we well know, a tooth has three layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels and nerves. Dead or dying nerves in the pulp can lead to death of a tooth.
Once this happens, the tooth will eventually fall out on its own. However, it can be dangerous to wait for this to happen, as the tooth can become infected and affect the jaw and other teeth.
A tooth is “dead” when blood no longer flows through it.. Also known as a “non-vital tooth“.
How to know if a tooth is dead?
It’s not always easy to identify a dead tooth simply by looking at it. However, there are two main symptoms of a dead tooth that can help with self-diagnosis: pain and discoloration of the tooth.
A tooth that is dead or dying can lead to a variable level of pain, from being almost non-existent to extremely painful. The dying nerve or an infection usually causes an increase in pain.
Some people wonder why they experience pain if the nerve is dead. However, the pain does not come from inside the tooth but from extremely sensitive nerve endings around the outside of the tooth, called the periodontal membrane. Bacteria and the remains of dead nerves, or pus, accumulate in the cavity inside the tooth and put pressure on the periodontal membrane, which can cause immense pain.
Color change
If the tooth is dead, it will often be darker in color, and you may notice yellow, gray, or black discoloration. Usually, a change in color occurs because the red blood cells are dying. It is an effect very similar to bruising. Discoloration will occur if a dead tooth is not treated and its color change will increase over time.
Causes
There are two main causes of a dead tooth: dental caries and dental trauma.
Tooth decay begins in the outermost layer of the tooth, but over time it can cause cavities that penetrate deeper layers. If these cavities are not treated, they can reach the pulp and create a pathway for bacteria to enter the tooth and cause nerve death. The pressure inside the pulp will increase, cutting off the blood supply, starving the nerve and killing the pulp. This can cause severe pain.
If there is physical trauma to the tooth, such as a sports injury or a fall, the blood vessels may burst, or the blood supply to the tooth may be cut off. Eventually, because blood does not flow to the tooth, the nerve and other living tissue within the pulp will die.
Treatment
Early treatment to fix a dead tooth is vital. Even if a person doesn’t feel pain at first, if he suspects that he has a dead tooth, he should seek medical attention, as it could be extremely painful. An x-ray will help the dentist diagnose a dead tooth. For its treatment, the usual thing is extraction.
The Oral Health Foundation recommends following a dental care routine: brush your teeth before bed and at least once more throughout the day, clean between your teeth with floss or an interdental brush at least once a day, avoid food and sugary drinks and going to the dentist regularly.
Important: It must be clarified that Bioguía does not give medical advice or prescribe the use of techniques as a form of treatment for physical or mental problems without the advice of a doctor, either directly or indirectly. In the case of applying any information on this site for this purpose, Bioguía does not assume responsibility for these acts. The intention of the site is only to offer information of a general nature to help in the search for personal development and growth.
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