What does a dead tooth look like?

What does a dead tooth look like?

Healthline's page on dead teeth, written with a dentist reviewing it in 2018, says a dying tooth often looks different from its neighbours, commonly yellow, light brown, gray or black, and that the discoloration tends to deepen over time. It describes the tooth as looking almost bruised. It contrasts this with ordinary stain from coffee or wine, which is usually more even across the teeth. Cleveland Clinic lists a gray tooth as a possible dead nerve, and says dental trauma can cause it, and mentions a darkened tooth color among the signs of infected pulp.

Does a dead tooth hurt?

Not always. Healthline says some people have no pain, some mild and some intense pain, and that pain usually comes from the dying nerve or from infection. That means a tooth that does not hurt is not necessarily healthy, and a tooth that hurts is not necessarily dead. Cleveland Clinic's list of infected pulp symptoms includes pain when chewing or touching the tooth and pain that spreads to the jaw, face or nearby teeth.

What does a dead tooth feel like?

Healthline says other signs of infection can include bad breath, a bad taste in the mouth and swelling around the gumline. Cleveland Clinic adds a gum boil or pimple that may ooze pus, a swollen jaw, tender or swollen gums and a loose tooth, because infection can weaken the nearby bone. The sources we read do not say what a dead tooth feels like to the touch beyond these symptoms, and a healthy-looking tooth can still have a problem.

What does a tooth nerve look like?

You cannot see the nerve. It sits in the pulp inside the tooth, under enamel and dentin. What you can see are the changes it causes: a change in tooth color, a boil on the gum or swelling. Cleveland Clinic's discoloration page says a tooth that turns gray may have a dead nerve and that intrinsic discoloration starts inside the tooth, in the dentin. The only way to look at the nerve itself is through an X-ray, or during treatment.

What causes a tooth to die?

Healthline says trauma, such as a blow to the mouth, can kill a tooth within days or over months to years, and that cavities that reach the pulp can cut off blood flow. Cleveland Clinic's discoloration page names falls, car crashes and sports injuries as causes of discoloration. MedlinePlus lists damage to the tooth nerve among the causes of tooth discoloration, alongside staining foods and drinks, tobacco, some medicines and excess fluoride. Our guide on preventing tooth discoloration covers the causes that are not about the nerve.

How do you tell a dead tooth from a stained tooth?

Stains from tea, coffee, red wine or tobacco usually affect several teeth and often sit at the surface, according to Cleveland Clinic and MedlinePlus. A single tooth that suddenly changes color, or one that darkens after an injury, is a reason for an assessment, Cleveland Clinic says. MedlinePlus advises contacting a professional if the color persists after thorough cleaning or has no apparent cause. A dentist can usually tell the difference with an examination and an X-ray, which Healthline says is how dying teeth are often found.

What happens if a dead tooth is left?

Healthline says untreated bacteria can spread, leading to loss of other teeth and effects on the jawbone and gums. Cleveland Clinic says infected pulp can lead to a swollen jaw, a gum boil, and pain that spreads. Our guides on tooth infection explain how an abscess can progress and when it becomes an emergency, including the question of headaches and sinus symptoms. The point of seeing a dentist early is that the tooth may still be saveable.

What do dentists do about it?

Healthline says a root canal can save the tooth by removing the infected pulp, that a crown is often recommended afterwards, especially for back teeth, and that if the tooth cannot be saved it is removed and may be replaced with an implant, denture or bridge. For discoloration on a front tooth, it says bleaching or a veneer may help. Healthline also says that, until you are seen, avoiding hot drinks and hard foods and an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory may ease pain, but that this does not replace professional care.

Questions to ask your dentist

Take these to your appointment.

• Is this tooth alive or dying?
• Do I need an X-ray?
• Can the tooth be saved with a root canal?
• Will it need a crown afterwards?
• Is there any infection, and does it need treatment now?

Frequently asked questions