Restoring Infected Teeth With Post And Core

3d render of lower jaw with post and core tooth restoration over white background

When you have an infected tooth, but don’t have enough structure to support a traditional root canal procedure, then you may need post and core, or possibly a core buildup. Our team can help repair your smile and prevent tooth loss and worsening pain. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentist talks about post and core endodontic treatment!

Signs of an Infected Tooth

When should you see our team for endodontic treatment? You may need a root canal if you encounter persistent pain and sensitivity in a tooth that only grows in severity with time. Other symptoms include pain when you bite down or chew, a swelling near the tooth, a discharge from the tooth, or pain in the face and jaw. When you experience one or more of these potential symptoms, then reach out to our team right away. We will conduct a detailed dental exam to see which form of root canal is necessary to stop the infection and prevent your tooth from being lost.

Post and Core

With a traditional root canal, we numb the tooth and open it so we can remove the tissues from within. We then add a special filling to the inside of the tooth and cap it with a crown. But! What if you don’t have enough strong tooth structure available to support the filling and crown? In these situations, our team would conduct a Post and Core procedure. After we remove the infected tissue and clean the inside of the tooth, we can place a special rod called a post to the inside of the tooth. This helps stabilize the filling material and the tooth structure. Your tooth can then support the crown we place to complete the procedure and protect your smile. The crown is of course custom-made to ensure a lifelike appearance!

Core Buildup

We also offer root canal treatment for severely damaged or cracked teeth, which leads to infection and weakens the outer structure. In some cases, since there may not be enough structure to support the crown, we can build up the structure with special resin materials. Once we rebuild the interior of the tooth, we can place the crown to complete the procedure. If you have any questions about how we conduct root canals to save a tooth, or if you think you may need a Post and Core procedure, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help keep your tooth whole and healthy for years to come!