Teeth are made up of hard and soft tissues. Sometimes due to an injury or decay, the nerves in the pulp of the teeth become damaged and stop providing blood to the tooth. That can cause an infection, leading the nerves to die forming a dead tooth. Keep reading to find out the signs and treatment of a dead tooth.
Signs of a dead tooth
For many people, the discoloration can be one of the signs of a dead tooth. You may also experience pain in the tooth or gums. If you frequently consume staining foods such as coffee, tea, or wine, your teeth might turn off-white or light yellow, and the discoloration will likely be uniform. However, if you have discoloration because of a dead tooth, then the color would be different than the rest of your teeth. A dead tooth may appear yellow, gray, or even black. You may feel like you have a bruised tooth, and the discoloration will increase as the decay continues.
Dead tooth treatment
If you feel or figure out that you have a dead tooth, get the treatment as soon as possible. It is because if you leave the dead tooth as it is, the bacteria from the dead tooth can spread, and you may lose more teeth. Your dentist may treat a dying tooth using a root canal or may entirely remove the tooth.
Root canal
Root canal preserves your tooth. During a root canal, the dentist will make an opening through your tooth to remove pulp and cleanse the infection. After that, your dentist will fill and seal the tooth and then place a permanent filling.
Extraction
If your tooth is in severe condition and it is difficult to be restored, your dentist will recommend removing the tooth entirely. After the removal, you can go for an implant, denture, or bridge and fill in the gap.
For more information, you can talk to our experts. Call Brenham Family Dental and Orthodontics at 979-421-9685.