When we are going to perform a complex procedure such as an endodontics, patients often have doubts, as is normal. Complex doubts require complex answers and, for this reason, in this new article of our blog I will try to explain why the answer to this question is both yes and no, since whether or not a tooth is 'dead' is, for a tooth, something quite relative. I can already tell you that we should first ask ourselves: can a nail be dead?
Let's start at the beginning, though...
When is a root canal necessary and why is it performed?
Endodontics is the intermediate step between a filling and an extraction, if we want to look at it that way and simplify it a little. Let's say that it is the treatment that tries to prevent us from losing the tooth, something that any dentist will always see as the last of the possible steps or solutions. This is precisely why endodontics is so complex, because we resort to it when the caries has already affected the pulp nerve.
In these cases, what we have to do is to 'empty' the nerve of the tooth, disinfect all its internal canals and then proceed to 'seal' them. This is a somewhat unscientific way of explaining it, perhaps, but it is quite graphic and easy to understand.
And then, how does the tooth look like afterwards?
This is when I say that the term 'dead' is relative and, in particular, something I like to avoid because of its negative connotations. The tooth had a vasculonervous bundle that after treatment has ceased to be vascularised, but that does not mean that it is 'dead'. It is a tooth that continues to perfectly fulfil its chewing, positioning and holding function in the arch and that can last the rest of our life in our mouth doing so, so it has not died, although it has lost its vitality because we have removed its pulp.
In fact, a tooth that has been root-canaled can become decayed again. The dental tissue that is still there, i.e. the enamel and dentine, are also susceptible to caries. However, as there is no dental pulp, it will not hurt, which is all the more reason why it is essential to have regular dental check-ups and x-rays.
In addition, the tooth still needs the same care in terms of hygiene and prevention.
So, no, it is not dead. But it doesn't have vitality in it either, hence the confusion and the fact that it is relative.
