Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

The onset of a toothache signals the beginning of the end for a tooth's root (pulp). Although pain doesn't always mean the end for a root, as roots can recover, there is a high likelihood that a root canal will become necessary. Pain indicates that the nerve within the tooth has suffered, or is suffering, from trauma. If the nerve dies, it will decay inside the tooth, and an infection will ensue.

Removing the nerve via root canal therapy is the most suitable course of action for an infected tooth, otherwise, the infection spreads to the surrounding bone and gum tissue. But what exactly are you losing when a dentist removes a nerve from a tooth?

Sensation

Without the bundle of nerves and blood vessels that are present in the centre of all teeth, you would feel nothing whilst chewing your food. This may seem like a good thing, but without nerves, there is no sensation. Without sensation, there is no warning when something goes wrong.

Warning

A tooth with a healthy nerve can sense temperature changes. For example, if you bite into an ice-cream with your two front teeth, you may quickly regret it! The same is true if you injure a tooth, for example, if you crack a tooth during a game of football. Dentin, the layer of tooth under the enamel, contains tubules that allow the nerve to receive sensations.

When the enamel layer is broken, the dentin layer is exposed. This heightens feeling in a tooth, causing toothache and also allowing bacteria to enter the tooth. The pain you feel acts as a warning to you. Without it, you would be unaware of the issue with your tooth. If a tooth breaks and you are unaware of it, bacteria will gain entry and quietly cause tooth decay.

Flexibility

The bundle of nerves and blood vessels inside a tooth also provides the tooth with nourishment. Nutrients, oxygen and water are sent to the dentin layer, which lies beneath the enamel, nourishing it and helping it to grow over time. Dentin, while not as strong as enamel, contains collagen fibres. These fibres give it a degree of flexibility not present in enamel.

Therefore, when you chew, it is the dentin layer that keeps your teeth from crumbling under the massive pressure you exert while chewing. If there is no nerve to nourish the dentin, the dentin can no longer grow in response to pain or stimulation. Ultimately, this weakens teeth, leaving them more brittle and prone to breaking.

Yes, your teeth nerves can be painful, but you are better off with them than without them. For more information, contact a local family dentist.