When you have a tooth develop an infection, treatment is crucial for protecting your smile and preventing the onset of tooth loss. With root canal therapy, our team can offer an endodontic treatment to bring relief and save your smile. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about stopping infections with a root canal.
The Causes and Dangers of Infected Teeth
A dental infection means that harmful oral bacteria have reached the pulp, the nerve center of your tooth. This could be due to an untreated cavity that has grown in severity, or as a result of a serious injury to a tooth. When the issue develops, you could experience tooth sensitivity or a toothache, pain when you chew or bite down, or aches in the face and jaw. Headaches and earaches could occur, as could swelling near the tooth or even a discharge from the tooth. When these symptoms occur, do not ignore them, instead talk to our team. We will conduct a detailed exam to pinpoint the position and assess the severity of your infection, so we can plan the root canal process.
The Root Canal Procedure
Once we’ve planned the procedure, we will take steps to ensure you are comfortable throughout the procedure. We can administer a local anesthetic to the area being treated, and also discuss sedation to help you feel calm and comfortable, even if you have dental anxiety. Once you are ready, our team will open the tooth and remove the tissues from within. We then thoroughly clean the interior of the tooth and the root canals. The next step is to add a special filling known as gutta percha to the interior of the tooth. Finally, we cap the tooth with a dental crown, one custom-made to ensure a lifelike appearance and provide a durable and balanced chewing surface. The crown also helps protect the tooth from further decay or infection.
Protecting Your Smile
Following your endodontic treatment, you can take steps to reduce the risk of future cavities or infections. For example, brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss every evening before you go to bed. Be sure to cut back on the sugar and starch in your diet so you don’t feed decay-causing bacteria. Make time to see our team for a checkup and cleaning visit every six months too! If you have any questions about how we treat an infected tooth with a root canal, then contact our team today.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ENDODONTIC TREATMENT
We want to offer treatment to prevent tooth loss related to an infected tooth! You can schedule an appointment by calling our office in Astoria, NY at 718-728-8320.
