If you have an infected tooth, this could be a source of pain in the tooth and eventually, risk the loss of your tooth. But our team can help treat the issue and keep your smile full! In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentist talks about treating infection with a root canal.
The Causes of a Dental Infection
What does it mean when a tooth is infected? This means that the interior nerve tissues, a collection of living tissues known as the pulp, have been exposed to bacteria. This could be due to a severe cavity, or even an injury to the tooth. When this happens, root canal treatment is needed to stop discomfort and prevent the pulp from dying, which could allow infection to spread and eventually necessitate the extraction of the tooth. But we can stop infection and pain with a root canal! If you experience toothaches or sensitivity that is prolonged, or pain when you eat or bite down, let us know. There could also be pain in the face and jaw, headaches, swelling, or even a discharge from the tooth itself. Again, don’t ignore these potential symptoms, reach out to us for a diagnosis right away!
The Root Canal Procedure
Our team will examine the tooth with digital x-rays, so we can peer inside and assess the presence and severity of the infection. We then plan the treatment in detail and then numb the tooth directly with a local anesthesia, and could also offer sedation to keep you comfortable if you have anxiety or other factors that complicates your treatment.
We then open the tooth and remove the tissues inside, and clean the inside of the tooth thoroughly. We replace the interior tissues we remove with a special filling material known as gutta percha, before we cap the tooth with a crown to complete the process and protect remaining structure from pain and further decay or infection. We take care to ensure the final results look natural.
Surgery and Retreatment
We also have other treatment options available. For example, if the infection is located at the tip of the root, we may offer a surgical alternative to reach the area directly and treat it without opening the tooth and removing all the interior tissues. If you have had a root canal in the past and your tooth hurts, we could conduct a retreatment to address the issue and stop further pain. If we open the tooth and find you don’t have enough structure to support a filling and crown, we could conduct a post and core buildup to strengthen the interior and keep your tooth intact and safe.
If you have any questions, then contact our team today!
Call Omni Endo for a Root Canal
A root canal can help treat an infected tooth and keep your smile full. To find out more about stopping the pain in your tooth, call Omni Endo in El Paso, TX, call 915.990.3636 today.
