An infected tooth could become a lost tooth without proper attention. Which is why we use an endodontic treatment known as root canal therapy. This safe and gentle procedure could preserve your smile by preventing tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about protecting smiles with root canal therapy.
The Impact of Dental Infection
A dental infection can mean serious trouble for your smile. First, you’re likely to experience uncomfortable symptoms, such as tooth sensitivity, toothaches, pain when visiting down or chewing, swelling, or even a discharge from the tooth. Without treatment, the pain could worsen and the tooth become lost or require extraction to protect surrounding teeth from infection. The issue develops when harmful oral bacteria make contact with the inner pulp, which is possible through untreated cavities or serious injuries to a tooth.
The Root Canal Procedure
When you experience one or more of the symptoms we’ve discussed above, please let us know right away. We will examine your smile and take detailed digital x-rays to assess the cause and extent of your problem. We can often offer treatment with a root canal. This involves first numbing your tooth with local anesthetic, and we could offer sedation for those with anxiety. We then open the tooth to access and remove the infected tissues. The interior of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, and we add a restorative filling material. We then cap the tooth with a dental crown. The restoration will protect the tooth, and we can also make them from lifelike materials so your repair looks natural.
Safeguarding Your Smile
The root canal preserves your tooth and prevents the complications of tooth loss. Following treatment, consider making changes to limit your risk of tooth decay or infection. For example, be sure to brush and floss every day to remove the trapped particles left behind by our foods and drinks. This limits plaque buildup, which could weaken the tooth and cause decay, until a dental cleaning, in which we remove all the buildup completely. You can also help by reducing your consultation of foods and drinks high in sugar and starch, which could otherwise feed harmful oral bacteria and increase the risk of cavities and complications.
If you have any questions about how to treat an infected tooth, or about taking preventive measures to keep your teeth strong, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy your healthiest possible smile.
Ready for Restorative Treatment?
Our team would love to help you preserve your smile and avoid tooth loss. To learn more about our approach to restorative dental care, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
