Identifying and Treating a Dead Tooth:
A dead tooth is one which has lost its ability to move (or not) when pressed against the gums. A dead tooth may or may not have any pain associated with it.
If there is no pain, then the tooth must be very old and therefore needs to be extracted. However if there is some discomfort associated with pressing on the tooth, then it probably needs to be treated first before extraction can take place.
The most common cause of a tooth dying is from trauma such as a fall or even chewing on something sharp. Other causes include age, poor dental hygiene, and improper care.
Treatment Options:
1. Remove the tooth completely: This will remove all risk of infection and prevent further decay.
It is also recommended that the tooth be cleaned thoroughly to avoid future problems.
2. Clean the tooth: This step is only necessary if the tooth is very dirty and/or has become infected.
The dentist will clean out the cavity and fill it back up with cement.
3. Fill in the cavity: This procedure involves filling in a small hole created by your teeth grinding together.
Once filled, the tooth will need to be capped so that it doesn’t fall out again.
4. Crown the tooth: This is used to strengthen a severely decayed tooth.
It will also prevent future problems such as pain and infection.
5. Extract the tooth: If none of the above treatments are possible or your dentist believes that none of them will work, then your only option is to have the tooth removed.
Tips for Prevention:
1. Always talk to a trained professional before doing anything to your teeth other than proper care.
2. Taking care of your teeth and gums will prevent decay, infection, and other problems.
3. A small amount of decay can quickly become a pretty big problem, so don’t wait to seek treatment and talk to a professional.
4. Don’t allow young children to be without supervision when they are brushing their teeth.
5. Make sure everyone in the house brushes their teeth at least twice a day.
6. Don’t smoke, and make sure nobody else does around you.
This can cause severe problems for your teeth down the road and increase the risk of infection.
With any luck, this information will help keep your teeth healthy. Thanks for reading, and best of luck!
Sources & references used in this article:
Odontogenic Cysts: Treatment of Cysts of the Jaws by PA Bramley – 1971 – journals.sagepub.com
Identification of waterfowl nest predators by JL Bernier – 1955 – Mosby
Importance of dental records for victim identification following the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster in Thailand by JD Rearden – The Journal of Wildlife Management, 1951 – JSTOR
Assessment of the Discoloured Tooth by M Petju, A Suteerayongprasert, R Thongpud, K Hassiri – Public health, 2007 – Elsevier
When the Dead Speak-Forensic Odontologic Identification by KD Hogg – Practical Procedures in Aesthetic Dentistry, 2017 – Wiley Online Library
