July 24, 2019
At Dental Wellness Phoenixville, our goal is to keep your pearly whites healthy and happy. Combined with regular visits to our office, an at-home oral hygiene routine that involves brushing twice daily and flossing each day can help you and your loved ones reduce your risk for many common dental conditions. Without proper oral hygiene, however, your oral health may become a headache and lead to serious problems like a dead tooth.
What Is a Dead Tooth?
When a tooth is no longer receiving any blood flow, it is considered a dead tooth. This occurs when there are two major changes in the pulp of the tooth: the nerves in the pulp die, and the blood vessels no longer receive blood. Typically, this is a painful process and may also result in the tooth changing color.
What Causes a Dead Tooth?
The two main causes of a dead tooth are tooth decay and trauma. Tooth decay occurs when minor cavities are left untreated and deepen over time. This allows bacteria and acid to enter the pulp of the tooth and cause the nerve to die. Your tooth will try to fight off the infection but only professional care can save a tooth with advanced decay. Trauma to the tooth from a sports injury or something similar can also cause a dead tooth. This typically occurs when the blood vessels in the tooth burst.
How Do We Treat a Dead Tooth?
If a dead tooth is detected early, we may be able to save the tooth structure through root canal therapyroot canal therapy. Otherwise, we will need to extract the tooth to prevent infection from spreading throughout your mouth and beyond.
If you practice good oral hygiene and home and visit our office every six months or so for cleanings and exams, you can greatly reduce your risk for developing a dead tooth. Additionally, if you do play contact sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth in the event of trauma to the mouth. To ask our team any questions about dead teeth or to schedule your next appointment, call our office today!
