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Teeth are made of hard and soft tissues. The hard tissues are enamel, dentin, and cement; they are found in the outermost part that protects the soft tissue: the dental pulp. When the dental pulp is severely attacked, it dies; then we say that the tooth is dead. In this article, we will talk about how to deal with a dead tooth.
The dental pulp is a set of small arteries, veins, and nerves found in the innermost part of the tooth. It is contained in a space known as the pulp chamber and runs along each of the roots of the teeth, through spaces known as root canals. Dental pulp has several important functions:
Teeth die from two main causes:
Caries are the formation of holes in the teeth, caused mainly by poor hygiene. When these pits expose the dental pulp to the oral environment and temperature changes, it becomes inflamed. The dental pulp is enclosed in a space with hard walls (composed of dentin), so when it becomes inflamed, blood flow can be cut off and necrosis can occur.
When teeth receive severe blows, they can become disconnected from the vessels that provide their blood supply, resulting in pulpal necrosis. Many times, the pulp becomes necrotic sometime after being attacked, and patients may not notice it at the time. Blows can also cause the tooth to fracture and the dental pulp to be exposed, generating inflammation and necrosis.
When a tooth is dead, it loses sensitivity to temperature changes. Many times, dead teeth have experienced severe pain in the past, but if the necessary treatment was not carried out in time, the inflammation caused the nerve of the tooth to die, and it lost all sensitivity. This is the reason why, if a tooth stops hurting without treatment, it is not an indication that all is well. During a dental visit, the dentist will determine the tooth’s status by performing temperature tests.
When the tooth has been dead for a long time, it can take on color. This is the reason why many patients consult a dentist; of note, there can be no more symptoms other than this discoloration.
If the pulp of a tooth dies, either due to decay or trauma, it initiates the process of decomposition. Pulp activates a defense system, which sooner or later generates the inflammatory process. Although dead teeth no longer suffer pain from temperature changes, inflammation of the surrounding tissues creates discomfort and severe pain. If this inflammation progresses without treatment, pus may form, leading to orofacial cellulitis or an abscess, which can affect the patient’s general health and even cause death.
The only way to treat a dead tooth and avoid complications is to remove the necrotic pulp inside and carry out deep disinfection of the space. It is necessary to go to a dentist specializing in endodontics since there is no safe and definitive way to treat pulpal necrosis at home
Many years ago, the only way to avoid or mitigate the infection and inflammation caused by pulpal necrosis was to extract the tooth. Although the pain was eliminated and the infection was solved, people lost a lot of teeth; when they reached a certain age, they no longer had enough teeth to chew.
For just over 200 years, dentists have searched for ways to treat pulpal necrosis without having to extract teeth. What is known today as root canal treatment was developed. This is performed by a dentist specializing in endodontics; it consists of several steps:
Root canal treatments are viable as long as the tooth can be rehabilitated or reconstructed afterward. If decay or trauma has destroyed most of the tooth, and it is not possible to rehabilitate it, or if the root canal infection is too severe, the indicated treatment will be extraction
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[accordion-item title=”What occurs when a tooth is dead?” class=”actitle”]
A tooth with a deceased nerve is occasionally termed necrotic pulp or a tooth without pulp. After this transpires, the tooth will eventually dislodge on its own. Nevertheless, waiting for this to happen can pose a risk, as the tooth might get infected and impact the jaw and adjacent teeth.
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[accordion-item title=”What is the lifespan of a dead tooth?”]
Allowing a deceased tooth to remain in your mouth is ill-advised, as it can pose substantial risks to the remaining teeth and jaw. The duration the tooth persists in your mouth before naturally dislodging can vary, spanning from days to months – potentially even years – depending upon the severity and nature of the damage.
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[accordion-item title=”Is it possible for a deceased tooth to become infected?”]
Once a tooth is deceased, its ability to fend off bacteria is compromised. Consequently, there is an elevated susceptibility to infection, particularly since the pulp of the tooth extends to the root. Indications of bacterial infection encompass unpleasant taste, inflammation, and foul breath.
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[accordion-item title=”What occurs if you delay addressing a dead tooth?”]
Allowing a dead tooth to linger in your mouth, whether for days or even months, can result in several issues. Leaving the tooth untreated can expose you to the risk of infection, potentially leading to pain and discomfort and also resulting in an unappealing appearance.
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Contact us
If you have any questions about this or other topics, you can contact us at Channel Islands Family Dental as well as our page on Facebook. We look forward to your visit and we will make a timely diagnosis. Our dentists in Oxnard, Santa Paula, Ventura, Newbury Park, and Port Hueneme will be able to guide you toward the best treatment to take care of your health and give you back your best smile.
Bibliography
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