Teeth that Are Too Physically Damaged Need to Be Extracted However, if that crack is down the middle of the tooth, or if it extends beneath the gum line, the tooth may be too physically damaged to save. If your tooth has lost its structural stability, then you can't use it to chew, and you will need to extract it.
The biggest factor a dentist looks at when deciding if a tooth can be saved is how much “good” tooth structure there is left. If the tooth is broken at the gumline and has a big cavity that goes down to the bone then there is little hope that the tooth can be saved.
Without prompt treatment during the early stages, periodontal disease can damage the tissue and bone surrounding and supporting the tooth. Severe trauma or injury to a tooth can damage it beyond repair, leaving tooth removal as the only solution.
Root Canals Aren't Possible with Severe Infection
If the procedure isn't done promptly, however, the infection can spread. If the deepest layers of the pulp become infected, it may be too late to save the tooth.
If possible, the dentist will try to restore it with the help of fillings and crowns. However, if the damage is beyond repair, he will suggest you to get it removed as the damaged tooth will only cause more pain and other dental issues in the long run, says the dentist in Satsuma.
A root canal is the only way to save a dead tooth and involves removing the pulp and cleaning the site to prevent infections. Once the pulp has been removed and the area thoroughly cleansed, a filling will be placed in the opening and the roots will be sealed.
If a cavity goes untreated for two years or longer, severe damage to the tooth is likely. You will notice discoloration around the tooth, swelling around the gums, and severe pain and sensitivity. The bacteria will probably have damaged the tooth root and pulp at this point. You may lose the tooth.
Dental fillings are often adequate for a fix, but in cases of severe infection, they may not work. If you have extensive damage from bacteria, you may need a dental crown.
What kind of cavity doesn't need to be filled? If you have a very small cavity limited to the enamel (or outer layer) of your tooth, you may not need to get a filling. This is especially true if you have had very few cavities in the past and practice good oral hygiene.
If the decay reaches your tooth's main structure, called dentin, then a filling can replace the lost tooth structure after your dentist has cleaned the cavity of bacteria and infection. However, if it reaches the tooth's center chamber, called the pulp, a filling may no longer suffice to address it.
In general, adults develop an average of three cavities during their lifetimes. This means that the average adult has three or four fillings in their mouth. Some patients end up with ten or more fillings depending on how well they care for their teeth.
Like most ailments, the longer you leave a cavity without treatment, the worse it's going to get. In a span of 3-6 months cavities can reach the nerve of your tooth. That's not good. Really not good.
Tooth Sensitivity or Pain – As the nerves that lead to a dying tooth begin to die away, they may become extra sensitive, causing you a tooth ache or sensitivity to hot or cold foods. You may experience pain while chewing at or around the site of the dead tooth.
A dying tooth may appear yellow, light brown, gray, or even black. It may look almost as if the tooth is bruised. The discoloration will increase over time as the tooth continues to decay and the nerve dies. If you experience any symptoms of a dying tooth, it's important to see your dentist right away.
Signs and Symptoms of Dead Tooth
Generally, some people may not feel any pain at all, while some may experience mild to severe pain. Discoloration can sometimes be one of the first signs of a dead tooth. The color of the tooth may turn to a dark grey shade, yellow, light brown, or even black.
If the tooth is dead, it will often get darker in color, and a person may notice a yellow, gray, or black discoloration. A change in color usually occurs because the red blood cells are dying. This is a very similar effect to bruising.
On average, as a broad timeline, it can take anywhere from six months to four or five years before a cavity needs treatment. The conditions of your mouth change daily. Conclusion: a cavity can start to form, then not have the right conditions to develop.
Gold fillings are the most durable lasting up to 20 years. Amalgam and ceramic fillings can give you excellent service for approximately 15 years. Glass ionomer fillings are brittle and last for less than five years. Composite fillings are stronger and last for about seven years.
It can lead to infections that can spread to the other parts of the body, it can increase your risk of heart disease and it can weaken your immune system. Good oral hygiene and biannual trips to the dentist are essential when it comes to keeping tooth decay away.
Dentists also spend much of their time caring for patients who are often scared, anxious, or dealing with acute pain due to their teeth. It's no wonder that dentists get dental cavities at a higher rate than most people! While it's not something that happens very frequently, it does happen from time to time.
Middle-aged adults (40-59 years old)
The frequency of cavity fillings for adults in their middle years is typically 6 to 10 fillings.
Though good oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing helps in preventing cavities, you may still get cavities. The reasons can be many, like the spaces between teeth that easily trap food, consuming too much cavity-causing foods and beverages, avoiding regular professional-level cleanings and checkups, etc.
Drilling Too Deep into the Canal
There are several injuries that could occur when a dentist drills too deep into a tooth's canal. First, the patient could suffer nerve damage as a result of a root canal procedure if the dentist drills through the apex of the tooth and into the inferior alveolar nerve.