When you have an infected tooth, this could be a major source of discomfort and without treatment, you could risk tooth loss. But our team can help you enjoy good oral health and avoid major complications, sometimes in only one visit. In today’s blog, your Londonderry, NH, dentist talks about how we protect smiles with treatments like root canal therapy.
The Causes and Risks of Infected Teeth
Dental infection is a very serious issue and one that needs immediate attention. At the center of your tooth is a group of tissues known as the pulp, which keeps your tooth healthy and functional. When a tooth is infected, this means that harmful oral bacteria has made contact with the pulp. This could be due to a cavity that remains untreated, allowing the decay to grow and spread through the tooth. An injury that exposes sensitive inner structure to bacteria could also be a factor. Without treatment, infection grows in severity until it essentially kills the tooth. At this point, extraction could be necessary to avoid the spread of infection to other parts of your smile. You need treatment to preserve your smile and stop discomfort.
Warning signs of an infected tooth could include tooth sensitivity, toothaches, pain when you bite down or chew, aches in the face and jaw, and swelling near the tooth. A foul-tasting discharge from it could also occur. When you experience one or more of these potential symptoms, then reach out to our team today. We can examine your smile and see if you need a root canal.
Planning Your Root Canal
Our team will examine your smile with advanced imaging systems, such as digital x-rays and CT scanning. These systems use a fraction of the radiation that traditional x-rays require, and the images are available instantly on a chairside monitor, so you don’t have to wait for lengthy development periods that require harsh chemicals. Our team can view these high-definition images and diagnose the presence of an infection, and also assess the severity. We plan treatment in detail to ensure we avoid sensitive structures and remove all infected tissue from the tooth. To ensure you are comfortable, we can administer a local anesthetic to numb the tooth. If you have special needs, high anxiety levels, or an overactive gag reflex, we can also offer sedation to help you enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, with little to no memory of the procedure.
The Root Canal Treatment
The root canal procedure involves our team opening the tooth to access and remove the tissues from within. Once we do, we will thoroughly clean the inside of the tooth and the canals. We then add a special filling known as gutta percha. Our team then completes the procedure by capping the tooth with a crown. The crown will be custom-made and designed to not only look natural, but also ensure a balanced bite and a proper fit.
Retreatment
What if you have had a root canal done at another office years or months prior, and the tooth begins to hurt again? There is a chance that the tooth was contaminated or the root canal done improperly. We can offer a retreatment, in which we open the tooth and redo the procedure essentially, so you avoid further discomfort or the risks of losing your tooth completely.
Endodontic Surgery
In some cases, we may recommend a root-end resection, also known as root canal surgery. This is prescribed when the infection is located at the tips of your root canals. Instead of a traditional root canal, we will open the gums near the root tips so we can access the area directly. We will remove the tip so we can extract the compromised tissues and replace them with a medicated filling. We then add a new tip to the area and suture it closed. Our team can address the area quickly and effectively, and bring relief.
If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat infected teeth with endodontic procedures, or if you have an aching tooth that may need a root canal, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to offer a comfortable and healthy smile so you can smile with confidence and enjoy your favorite meals again.
Schedule An Appointment for Treating Your Infected Tooth
Our team wants to help you enjoy a comfortable smile, one free of infection and tooth loss. You can schedule an appointment with the team at My Dentist in Londonderry, NH, today by calling 603-965-3407.
