“Dead” is an interesting term when it comes to a tooth. Once we exit our teenage years and our teeth have finished growing, they no longer require a blood supply or other nourishment. They are completely developed and don’t change moving forward. So, when a tooth is infected or damaged to the degree that it requires a root canal, cleaning out the nerve endings, blood vessels, and other tissue doesn’t really change the tooth. The tooth will no longer have any sensation of hot and cold, and it won’t be able to cause any pain. But this doesn’t mean the tooth will start to fall out of your mouth, as you would assume with something that was “dead.” After a tooth has a root canal, it can remain in your jaw and mouth the remainder of your life. You can chew and bite with it, and you won’t have any idea that this tooth is different than the tooth right next to it.
That’s the whole point of a root canal — saving the tooth.