Healthy teeth are alive and protected by a tough outer layer of enamel, underneath which lies a layer of dentin. The dentin surrounds the dental pulp, which is the living part of the tooth. It contains nerves, connective tissue and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive. If these tissues become damaged, then the dental pulp can die.

How Can I Tell If I Have a Dead Tooth?

It’s not always possible to tell if a tooth has died, but it is a condition we can easily detect when you have your regular dental checkups at Margolian Dentistry. Possible symptoms of a dead tooth include increased tooth sensitivity, especially when you have anything hot or cold. You may experience severe tooth pain before the tooth dies because the nerve has become infected or inflamed. The pain can disappear when the tooth nerve dies, and it’s tempting to think the issue has cleared up without treatment, but this isn’t the case. A tooth infection cannot disappear without proper professional dental care.

A discoloured tooth can be darker, appearing grey, brown, yellow, or even black. The discolouration can increase over time. You may develop chronic bad breath in Oshawa or have a persistently nasty taste. If you look at the gum around the tooth, it could appear swollen and red.

What Can Cause a Tooth to Die?

Two major causes of tooth death include tooth decay and any form of trauma, such as taking a blow to the mouth.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay often develops because of poor dental hygiene, allowing harmful bacteria to build up in your mouth, where they create acid that gradually erodes tooth enamel. Eventually, the acid eats through the tooth enamel and into the dentin underneath, creating a cavity. Without treatment, the cavity will reach the dental pulp, causing infection, inflammation, and usually much pain.

Trauma

If you like to play sports and don’t have a well-fitting sports mouthguard in Ajax, you are at risk of taking a blow to the mouth that could inflame the dental pulp, causing the tissues in the dental pulp to swell, cutting off the blood supply. An inflamed dental pulp can eventually die.

If you suspect you have something wrong with a tooth, we urge you to come and see us quickly. When we can provide prompt treatment, we might be able to save the tooth.

How Is a Dead Tooth Treated?

A tooth with a severe infection or where the dental pulp is severely inflamed can often be saved with root canal therapy in Whitby. This is our preferred treatment because it preserves and protects the tooth, preventing extraction. Our dentist exposes the dental pulp during root canal therapy so the pulp tissue can be thoroughly removed, including the pulp tissue extending into your root canals in your tooth roots. When we are sure the infection and inflammation are removed, we can permanently fill the tooth, usually restoring it with a dental crown. The crown provides excellent support and strength and restores the tooth’s appearance completely, helping to protect and preserve it hopefully for years to come.

Unfortunately, not every dead or dying tooth is salvageable. If the tooth is severely damaged, root canal therapy may not be enough to restore it, in which case we will need to remove the tooth. We thoroughly recommend regular dental checkups and coming to see us as soon as you notice something is wrong with the tooth. If we cannot save a tooth, we can discuss ways to replace it. Possible options include dentures, a dental bridge or dental implants.