When a tooth becomes decayed, a filling brings relief and preserves the tooth. But what if your tooth instead becomes infected? Lack of care is linked to painful symptoms and even tooth loss. But with endodontic treatment, we can prevent these painful complications and preserve your smile! In today’s blog, your Londonderry, NH, dentist talks about improving the health and function of your smile with root canal therapy!
The Causes of an Infected Tooth
At the center of each tooth is a collection of living tissues known as the pulp, which oversee the flow of blood and nutrients to and from the teeth. The pulp keeps your tooth functional, and an infection means that harmful oral bacteria have made contact with the pulp. At this stage, treatment is crucial as the infection could eventually kill the pulp. At this stage, the tooth falls out or requires extraction to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of your smile. To prevent this, you need treatment designed to address concerns in the interior of a tooth. We may recommend an endodontic treatment known as a root canal to save your tooth!
The Warning Signs of Trouble
How do you know when to reach out to our team for treatment? Warning signs of an infected tooth vary and could include toothaches and sensitivity when we eat or drink, pain when biting down or chewing is reported as well, along with aches in the face and jaw. Don’t ignore the pains in your smile and reach out to our team right away. With advanced digital imaging systems, we can conduct a detailed examination to assess the position and severity of the infection. We then plan your treatment in detail, so we can restore your tooth and bring an end to your discomfort.
Anesthesia and Sedation
We know that sometimes people dread this procedure, especially those with anxiety. But the fact is, we take steps to ensure your comfort and many people have reported root canal procedures to be comparable to a simple dental filling placement. First, we will apply a local anesthesia to the area around the tooth in question to help ensure you remain comfortable during treatment. We could also discuss dental sedation, medications that help you enter a calm and relaxed state. These could include nitrous oxide, in which you breathe in a gas, or possibly an oral conscious option taken in pill or liquid form, or IV sedation. We choose the option that works best for you, and helps ensure your experience is a comfortable and positive one.
Root Canal Therapy
When you’re properly relaxed and comfortable, we will use the digital x-rays and images taken before to help us locate the infected area. We then open the tooth gently and remove the tissues from within the teeth and root canals. We next clean the interior of your tooth thoroughly. A special restorative filling known as gutta percha is then placed into the tooth. The last step involves taking a custom crown to cap the tooth and protect it from further decay or infection. The crown will be designed to not only offer a durable chewing surface, but look natural and blend with your smile too.
Taking a Preventive Approach
Following treatment, you can take steps to help protect your smile from further tooth decay and infection, limiting the need for a root canal procedure in the future. You should brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes. Do this in the morning and again in the evening before bed. You also need to floss in the evening before you brush the second time, so we remove what is beyond the reach of your toothbrush’s bristles. Try to cut back on sugar and starch, as these particles feed harmful oral bacteria and create the buildup that weakens and erodes the tooth, making an infection possible. Finally, be sure you see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months, so we monitor your smile and remove harmful buildup, keeping your teeth shining and healthy.
If you have any questions about our approach to endodontic treatment, or about the root canal procedure in particular, then please contact our team today. In 2024, let’s make sure your smile remains healthy and strong, and that you can avoid issues like tooth loss!
Treating Infected Teeth with My Dentist In Londonderry
We’re ready to tackle dental infection and help you enjoy a complete and healthy smile using our endodontic treatment options. If you have painful symptoms or need a root canal, then schedule an appointment for a consultation with our team by calling My Dentist in Londonderry, NH at (603)965-3407!
