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When a tooth loses its internal blood supply, the nerve inside slowly dies, resulting in a dead or non-vital tooth. Unlike healthy teeth that feel sensations like hot and cold, a dead tooth typically loses all feeling.
In this article, we’ll further discuss what a dead tooth is, how it happens, and how long a dead tooth can stay in your mouth.
How long a dead tooth can stay in your mouth without treatment depends on the level of damage. Generally, a dead tooth can remain in your mouth for days, weeks, or even years before it causes severe complications.
If the tooth experiences enough bone loss, it may become loose and fall out on its own. However, delaying treatment can increase the risk of major oral health problems, such as tooth pain, discomfort, and infection.
A dead tooth can’t heal on its own, and it can quickly become serious or life-threatening. If you have a dead tooth, consider seeing a dentist immediately.
A dead tooth can lead to various problems with your oral and overall health. These include short- and long-term risks.
After a few weeks or months with a dead tooth, you may start to experience:
Additionally, a discolored or black tooth may make you self-conscious, negatively affecting your quality of life.
The main long-term risk of a dead tooth is developing a tooth abscess. This can lead to a life-threatening blood infection called sepsis.
Other risks include:
Over time, you may struggle to chew and speak due to the pain.
The most common sign of a dead tooth is discoloration. Once a tooth becomes non-vital, it can appear gray, yellow, or dark brown.
You may also notice small bumps or pimples near the tooth root, which can become an abscess. Additionally, you may notice a persistent bad breath or foul taste from the infection.
It’s important to understand the symptoms of a dead tooth because a tooth can die without immediate symptoms. Fortunately, regular dental visits can help you spot signs early.
The most common causes of a dead tooth are physical trauma or bacterial infection. Trauma or injury can damage the blood vessels inside the tooth, resulting in death.
Meanwhile, a bacterial infection is typically caused by the following:
The treatment procedure most commonly used to treat a dead tooth is a root canal. This procedure is often recommended if the tooth and surrounding bone structure are still healthy, potentially saving the tooth.
The procedure typically involves making a hole in your tooth to remove the pulp. The dentist will then clean the inside of your tooth, seal the roots, and place a filling.
After the procedure, your dentist may fit the tooth with a dental crown. Another procedure used to treat a dead tooth is a tooth extraction.
An extraction is only recommended when the infection has spread too far. This procedure involves removing the entire tooth. The dentist may replace the tooth with a denture, implant, or bridge.
Aside from a dead tooth's short- and long-term risks, it can also lead to financial problems. The longer you wait to get treatment, the more expensive it gets.
Treatment Path | Average Cost |
Early root canal + crown | $2,200 to $3,400 |
Delayed extraction + implant | $4,500 to $6,000 |
No treatment (ER visit for abscess) | $1,300 per incident |
Delaying treatment often doubles your cost and significantly increases discomfort and recovery time.
You can avoid getting a dead tooth by keeping your teeth healthy. Here’s how:
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