General Dentistry 03/02/2025

Preventing and Treating a 'Dead Tooth'

A 'dead' tooth is called so because there is no blood flowing to it. Here is what you need to know about 'non-vital' teeth, including the symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment.

If you have been told you have a dead tooth, you might be wondering what this means and treatment might be required. You might be concerned that you are inevitably going to lose this tooth and this could lead to some anxiety about having gaps in your smile.

A dead tooth might sound scary, but there are things we can do to help. It doesn’t always have to mean that you will lose the tooth, and we can take steps to preserve your smile and ensure you don’t have to deal with a gap.

In this guide, we’re exploring some of the potential treatment options for a dead tooth and how you can protect your teeth following an injury or tooth decay. If you’re struggling with a dead tooth and would like to explore the next steps, get in touch with our team today.

What is a dead tooth?

Your teeth might look like hard, bony structures, but they are actually porous and have a blood supply. The tooth root feeds the tooth structure and keeps it healthy. Nerves will also let you know if there is an issue with your tooth by sending a pain signal.

If something happens to this blood supply, it can lead to a condition we often refer to as a dead tooth. This simply means that damage or decay has led to the blood supply being cut off from the tooth.

A dead tooth will typically be darker than surrounding teeth and it could also be more sensitive. Without a blood supply, it will also be more susceptible to damage and will become more brittle over time.

Other signs of a dead tooth include pain in your teeth, jaw, cheek and even headaches. You might have swelling or a lump on your gum. You could have swelling in your cheek or jaw. You might also have a bad taste in your mouth and bad breath. These are all telltale signs that something is amiss and should be treated by a dentist.

What is the treatment for a dead tooth?

We always want to preserve the tooth and maintain function of the jaw as much as possible. While extraction is a possibility, we would always want to save the tooth before we resort to removing it.

If you visit a dentist in good time, you may be able to start treatment to address the problem. This will typically be a root canal treatment. Don’t be afraid of this treatment. It may have a bad reputation, but it isn’t as bad as you might think.

With this treatment we remove the damaged centre of the tooth using tiny tools and flush out any traces of infection and bacteria left in the tooth. Without the damaged tooth pulp, we need to reinforce the tooth. We fill the canals of the tooth with a special dental cement, sometimes using posts to reinforce the roots.

Finally, we can protect the weakened tooth with a dental crown. This will restore bite and your smile, allowing you to chew with confidence.

If a root canal is not an option, your dentist may recommend extracting the tooth. This might be required if there is extensive damage and there is a risk to the surrounding teeth by keeping it in the mouth. We can then restore your smile using a dental bridge.

How do you prevent a dead tooth?

The best way to avoid dental decay is to visit the dentist regularly. You should also avoid ignoring dental problems, as they won’t get better on their own. If you notice any dental pain, book an appointment with our team. The sooner you visit the dentist, the sooner we can stop small problems in their tracks.

If you’re worried about dental decay or if you’ve recently injured a tooth, get in touch with our team to arrange a checkup.

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Benfleet Dental Centre

8 Benfleet Road, Benfleet. SS7 1QB

Opening times

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 18:30
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 14:00*
*By appointment only