If a tooth develops an infection, this could mean serious pain and threats to the sensitive inner tissues in your pulp and roots. To stop discomfort and avoid the potential loss of a tooth, we can help with an endodontic treatment. In today’s blog, your Pella, IA, dentist talks about root canal therapy, and the relief this endodontic treatment can offer for our patients!
The Risks Posed By an Infected Tooth
At the center of each tooth is a bundle of living tissues known as the pulp. This oversees the flow of essential blood and nutrients to and from the tooth, and is crucial for keeping teeth healthy. An infection means that injury or tooth decay have allowed bacteria to reach the pulp. Lack of treatment means serious discomfort and eventually, the risk of tooth loss and the spread of infection to other teeth or into the jawbone itself. To avoid this, you need to undergo a root canal.
Possible symptoms could include tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink, pain when biting down, or toothaches that don’t subside after a day or two. You could experience a fever, pain in the face or jaw, swelling near the tooth, or a discharge from the tooth. Don’t ignore these possible symptoms, please reach out to our team right away to discuss possible solutions.
The Root Canal Process
If a root canal is the right choice for you, then we will open the tooth in order to access and remove all the tissues within. We remove the pulp and the tissues from the roots, and then thoroughly clean the inside of your tooth. Our team will then add a special restorative filling material known as gutta percha. The last step is to place a crown. The custom restoration will not only look natural, but protect remaining tooth structure and provide a durable chewing surface. We attach this to complete the process, so you can enjoy comfort and better oral health.
Helping You Stay Comfortable
We always take steps to help our patients remain comfortable during their root canal, even if they have dental anxiety or special needs that could otherwise complicate treatment. Our team will plan the process in detail by taking digital images and x-rays of the tooth. We then administer a local anesthetic to numb the area. We also have sedation, and can choose from options like nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation to help you enter a deep state of calm, with little to no memory of the procedure at all.
Schedule Your Visit for Endodontic Treatment
Our team wants to help you avoid the pain and potential tooth loss caused by untreated dental infection. Call Allen and Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, today at 641-628-1121 to learn more about stopping a dental infection.