When a tooth becomes infected, you could begin to experience a host of painful symptoms and over time, your tooth could require extraction or fall out. But with endodontic treatment, we can offer treatment to prevent the loss of your tooth and to stop discomfort. In today’s blog, your Londonderry, NH, dentist talks about root canal therapy, retreatment, and root canal surgery.
The Causes of an Infected Tooth
How does an infection form in a tooth? The tooth could become infected when the outer enamel is compromised, allowing the harmful oral bacteria to reach the pulp, your tooth’s nerve center. For some, this could be due to an injury that breaks, cracks, or chips a tooth. An untreated cavity could expose the pulp eventually too. As could teeth grinding, which wears down outer structure. Regardless of the cause, when an infection forms treatment is crucial for avoiding worsening pain and the loss of your tooth!
The Warning Signs
You should recognize the warning signs of a potential infection, so you know when to see our team for treatment. A note: if you attend checkups and cleanings every six months with your general dentist, then the issue could be caught in the earliest stages of decay, so you only require a filling! The warning signs of an infected tooth include pain when you chew or bite down, swelling near the aching tooth, or tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink. A toothache that doesn’t subside after a day or two is cause for concern too, as is pain in the jaw or face or a discharge from the tooth. When these issues occur, please reach out to our team right away for a diagnosis!
The Risk of Tooth Loss
We want to offer a root canal to save the tooth and prevent the loss of your tooth. As the infection grows in severity, the tooth could eventually die and allow the infection to reach other parts of your smile. You could require a tooth extraction or the tooth could simply fall out, leaving behind a gap that further alters the health, beauty, and function of your smile. But with an endodontic treatment, we can offer treatment to preserve your smile!
Root Canal Therapy
We will start with digital x-rays, taking detailed images of your smile that are available right away chairside. This system uses 90% less radiation, and provides high-definition images for a more accurate and precise diagnosis. Once we assess the position and severity of your infection, we will plan and implement treatment. Our team will numb the tooth to keep you comfortable and if you have dental anxiety, we can discuss sedation to help you enter a calm and relaxed state throughout the procedure, so you have a positive office experience.
We will open the tooth and remove the tissues. We clean the interior of the tooth and root canals, and add a special restorative material referred to as gutta percha. The last step involves capping the tooth with a dental crown, one custom-made to ensure a lifelike appearance and a comfortable fit.
Retreatment
Root canals are usually successful and can provide years of quality protection for a tooth. But in some cases, they can fail to heal properly due to complications or contamination during treatment. This may even occur years following treatment with a different dental office. Our team can offer retreatment to remove the filling material and provide an antibiotic to the interior of your tooth. We then seal the tooth so the medication has time to fight the harmful bacteria. We then open the tooth and add a filling material before we cap your tooth with a crown.
Endodontic Surgery
If you have a failed prior treatment, or if an infection forms at the tip of a root canal, we may need to conduct a root canal surgery known as an apicoectomy. We numb the area and open the gums to reach the tip of the root and remove the infected tissues. We then remove any calcium deposits and add a filling to cap the end of the root and allow it to heal.
If you have any questions about our endodontic treatments, or if you have aching tooth that needs attention, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule A Visit With Dr. Karimipour for Tooth Treatment
With root canal therapy and other treatment options, we can improve the health, function, and appearance of your smile. Talk to our team about treating infected teeth and preserving your smile, by calling My Dentist in Londonderry, NH at (603)965-3407!
