If you have an infected tooth, this could mean serious discomfort and without care, the risk of losing the tooth. Which is why we offer an endodontic treatment known as a root canal, which can help preserve your smile! In today’s blog, your Londonderry, NH, dentist talks about what to expect from the root canal process and how this can prevent further discomfort or tooth loss in your smile!
The Causes of a Dental Infection
At the center of our tooth is a collection of living tissues known as the pulp, which controls the flow of blood and nutrients to and from the tooth. A tooth is infected when harmful oral bacteria reach the pulp, which can happen when a tooth is damaged in an injury or as a result of teeth grinding. An untreated cavity could grow in severity until bacteria reach the pulp. When the tooth is infected, treatment is crucial to avoid complications like worsening pain or even tooth loss!
Warning Signs and Dangers
How do you know if your tooth is infected? If you attend six-month checkup and cleaning visits with your general dentist, then you can likely identify trouble in the earliest stages of demineralization, long before an infection occurs, and obtain treatment to protect your smile. Otherwise, you may not believe you need care until you begin to experience the symptoms of the infection, such as tooth sensitivity, toothaches, pain when biting down or chewing, swelling, or a discharge from the tooth. Pain in the face and jaw could be experienced as well. When one or more of these symptoms occur, then contact our team right away for a diagnosis and to see if you need treatment.
Planning Treatment
Our team will carefully examine your smile with advanced digital x-rays and imaging technologies, so we can obtain a clear image of the portion of your tooth, so we can pinpoint the position and severity of your infection. These imaging systems use a fraction of the radiation and high-definition pictures are taken instantly chairside, so waiting for development and less time spent in the chair! We want to ensure we can offer care with precision, and that we avoid sensitive structures during treatment.
Anesthesia and Sedation
We know the idea of a root canal can cause anxiety, especially if you have a phobia of the dentist! But most patients find it comparable to receiving a simple dental filling. Our team will administer a local anesthesia to the area being treated to keep you comfortable. If you have dental anxiety or special needs, we can offer dental sedation to help you stay calm and comfortable throughout the procedure. We want you to enjoy a positive experience in our office!
The Root Canal
The root canal procedure involves opening the tooth to access and reach the tissues in the interior of the tooth. We then clean the inside of the tooth and root canals. The root canal next involves adding a special restorative material known as gutta percha to the interior of the tooth. Once we do, our team will then cap the tooth with a crown. The crown will be custom-made to ensure a comfortable fit, a balanced bite, and of course, a lifelike appearance. We want you to smile with confidence following treatment, and leave after one visit with a comfortable and healthy smile.
Retreatment and Surgery
What if you have had a root canal down by a previous office and the tooth has started to hurt again? If this occurs, then you may need retreatment. This essentially means we open the tooth, remove the previous filling material, and redo the root canal to prevent worsening pain and keep your smile whole. If the infection has formed in the tip of the roots, we may offer a form of surgery known as an apicectomy, in which we open the area near the tip to remove it and replace it, stopping discomfort.
If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat infections with a root canal, or about our other procedures like retreatment and root canal surgery, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy good oral health and a beautiful smile for years to come!
Schedule A Visit With Dr. Karimipour to Treat Your Infected Tooth
Our team wants to offer treatment to stop discomfort and preserve your smile at the same time. Talk to our team about endodontic treatment by calling My Dentist in Londonderry, NH at (603)965-3407!
