I went to my dentist a few years ago and she said that I had a "dead" front tooth and no root canal was done. I recently saw another dentist at the same office and I had to ask about my dead tooth because she did not say anything about it and I'm really worried because it is starting to yellow. She just gave me a prescription toothpaste to make my teeth stronger and told me to watch the front tooth and surrounding gum for infection. I think she also said that the tooth is passed saving to preform a root canal. Why they didn't tell me this before, I don't know. I started researching "dead teeth" and I'm really worried that if I could have an infection that I could possibly die from because the bacteria can get into my bone and then to my brain, since it's a front tooth. What should I do? Should I have a root canal done, or is my tooth passed saving? Should I just get a tooth implant? I'm leaving the country in a few months and I'm extremely worried.

Your 'dead tooth' will probably last longer then you do. It is dead on the inside, but not the outside and you need not worry about infection. That tooth can still withstand a crown should it get too yellow. What research did you do that got you worried that because it was a front tooth you could possibly die from bacteria? That could happen to any one of your teeth should you stop caring for them. No, don't worry about that tooth, root canal would be unnecessary as there is no root to take out, the root has died and calcified, which is good. . A tooth implant, no, you don't need that, but possibly a crown should you not like the colour of the tooth.