When a tooth develops an infection, this could lead to serious discomfort. Without treatment, this could mean worsening pain or even the risk of losing a tooth altogether! But we can help. In today’s blog, your team at Allen and Neumann Family Dentistry talks about root canal therapy for patients in Pella, IA.
The Presence of Dental Infection
How do you know if a tooth is potentially infected? We hope that our patients and their families will see our team for a routine checkup and cleaning every six months, allowing us to examine the teeth regularly and catch decay in the early stages, before an infection can develop. But once your tooth begins to hurt daily, and you have discomfort when you eat or speak, or pain in the face or jaw, you should let us know right away. We will conduct an exam to assess the presence and severity of the issue. If we find an infection, we can prevent worsening pain and tooth loss with a root canal procedure.
Root Canal Therapy
With a root canal, we will stop the infection at the source. We will gently open the tooth to access and remove the infected tissues from within. Once we have removed your interior tissues, we will clean the inside of the tooth and replace what we remove with a special filling material known as gutta percha. The last step is to cap the tooth with a dental crown, one custom-made to ensure a lifelike appearance. The crown protects your remaining tooth structure and blends with your smile. You can smile with confidence and avoid discomfort during meals or speech.
Ensuring You Stay Comfortable
We know the idea of a root canal can be a source of anxiety for our patients. But we always take time and effort to help you feel comfortable and relaxed. Our team will numb the area directly with a local anesthesia, and we also offer sedation so that even those with anxiety or special needs can remain relaxed and comfortably throughout the procedure, often with little to no memory of the process.
If you have any questions about how we plan treatment for an infection, or about the root canal process itself, then contact our team today to learn more and get started. We want to help return your smile to optimal oral health and bite function, so you can feel confident when you smile and avoid issues down the road.
Schedule an Endodontic Appointment with Allen & Neumann
Our team is ready to address a dental infection and bring relief. To schedule an appointment for restorative dentistry, call Allen and Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, at 641-628-1121 today.