When a tooth is infected, this could lead to major discomfort and after enough time, the loss of the tooth. But we can save an infected tooth and keep your smile whole with a simple endodontic treatment! In today’s blog, your Pella, IA, dentist talks about saving your smile with a safe and gentle root canal procedure.
The Causes and Dangers of Infected Teeth
Our teeth are made up of several layers. The outer email protects the tooth from injury and cavities. The inner dentin is sensitive and comprises most of the tooth structure. At the center is the pulp, the living tissue that keeps your tooth functional. An infection means the inner pulp has been exposed to harmful oral bacteria, which can happen due to an untreated cavity or an injury to the tooth. When the infection occurs, you could experience persistent tooth sensitivity and toothaches, pain when you bite down and chew, and swelling near the tooth. Pain in the jaw and face could occur, as could a discharge from the tooth itself. When these potential symptoms occur, please reach out to our team today.
Preparing Your Smile for a Root Canal
We will start by carefully examining the tooth with a digital x-ray, so we can assess the position and severity of the infection using 90% less radiation and with greater precision and accuracy. If we discover an infection, we will numb the tooth to keep you comfortable throughout the root canal procedure. If you have anxiety about dental treatment, we could also discuss the use of sedation to help you enter a calm and relaxed state.
The Endodontic Procedure
The root canal procedure begins with our team opening the tooth so we can reach and remove the tissues within. We then thoroughly clean the interior of the tooth and the root canals themselves. Our team will add a special filling to the interior of the tooth, known as gutta percha. Our team will then cap the tooth with a dental crown, one custom-made to ensure a lifelike appearance and proper protection of the tooth, so you can enjoy your favorite emails again and smile with confidence. We can then discuss better oral hygiene habits to limit the risk of future cavities and infections.
If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat issues like dental infection with a root canal, then contact our team today to learn more.
TALK TO OUR TEAM ABOUT OUR ENDODONTIC TREATMENTS
We can employ restorative treatments to preserve the stability and beauty of your smile. You can call Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, today at 641.628.1121 to schedule an appointment.