Your teeth are not invincible, and unfortunately they can die. Today, we will be discussing dead teeth including the symptoms, causes, and how you can receive dental care in Ottawa to treat a dead tooth.

What Is A Dead Tooth?
Teeth have three layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp. The pulp contains the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue that are responsible for keeping teeth alive. A dead tooth happens when these tissues become damaged and stop providing blood to the tooth.

What Are the Symptoms of a Dead Tooth?
A dead tooth can cause many different symptoms, although you can't always identify a dead tooth simply by looking at it. Your dentist can diagnose a dead tooth, which is why receiving regular dental care at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa is essential. Warning signs of a dead tooth include:

- Tooth pain: Although a dead tooth doesn't always cause pain, it's common for people to experience mild-to-severe tooth pain. Pain can occur due to infection or as a result of the dying nerve.
- Increased tooth sensitivity, especially to hot or cold foods and drinks
- Tooth discoloration: A dead tooth usually appears dark in colour, and you may notice a black, light brown, yellow, or gray discoloration to the affected tooth. The discoloration will worsen over time if treatment is delayed.
- Bad breath
- Swelling along the gum line
- Chronic bad taste in the mouth

If you have any of these symptoms, contact us right away at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa to schedule an appointment.

Causes of a Dead Tooth
Tooth decay and trauma or injury to a tooth are the primary reasons why a dead tooth occurs.

Tooth Decay
Poor dental hygiene and a diet high in sugar can lead to the development of cavities. Most cavities start on the enamel, which is the tough outer layer of teeth. If a cavity is left untreated, it can penetrate into the deeper layers of the tooth.

Once a cavity reaches the pulp, bacteria can enter the tooth. This causes infection, inflammation, and the death of cells found in the pulp. As pressure increases within the pulp, the blood supply is cut off, causing the pulp to die. Once tooth decay has reached the tooth's pulp, it's common to experience intense pain.

Physical Trauma or Injury
Even if you maintain good oral hygiene at home and receive regular dental care in Ottawa, it's still possible to suffer from a dead tooth. Experiencing any type of physical trauma, such as a sports injury, a blow to the face, or falling down, can also cause a tooth to die. These types of injuries can damage or burst blood vessels within the tooth, which cuts off the blood supply to the tooth. Once blood is no longer flowing to the affected tooth, the nerve and other tissues will die.

Dead Tooth Treatment Options
If you have a dead tooth, you should seek treatment at the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa as soon as possible. If a dead tooth isn't treated, the bacteria can spread to other teeth, the gum tissue, or jawbone, causing additional problems. Root canal therapy or a dental extraction are the two treatment options available for a dead tooth.

Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is the preferred method for treating a dead tooth because your dentist can save the tooth rather than remove it. During a root canal, your dentist removes the infected pulp from inside the tooth and cleans out the tooth to eliminate any infection. Once the inside of the tooth is clean, the tooth is filled and sealed to prevent further infection. To strengthen and support the tooth, your dentist may fit a crown over the tooth.

Extraction
Extracting the dead tooth is recommended if the affected tooth is severely damaged and can't be repaired through a root canal. This is one of the reasons why receiving treating a dead tooth as soon as possible is important. Tooth extraction is a simple procedure that involves completely removing the dead tooth. After the tooth is extracted, you can talk to your dentist about replacement options, such as a dental implant, bridge, or dentures.

At the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa, our dentists can provide you with the services and treatments needed to maintain the health of your mouth. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.