A dental infection could occur due to an untreated cavity or an injury, but regardless this leaves your smile vulnerable to serious discomfort and potential tooth loss. To help protect and preserve your tooth, you need root canal therapy. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists talk about preserving teeth with a root canal.
The Causes and Symptoms of an Infected Tooth
Our teeth are made of multiple layers. The innermost is the nerve center of your tooth, the pulp. The pulp is then surrounded by dentin, which is sensitive and makes up most of your tooth structure. The outermost is the strong and durable enamel, which protects the sensitive layers from exposure to bacteria. However, poor oral hygiene could allow plaque and tartar buildup to weaken and erode enamel, and an injury or teeth grinding could compromise the enamel. Cavities then form, which grow worse with time. Once bacteria and decay reach the pulp, the tooth becomes infected. This means worsening symptoms and the risk of tooth loss!
Warning signs include tooth sensitivity and toothaches, as well as pain when you bite down or chew, headaches, jaw pain, facial aches, swelling near the tooth, or a discharge from it. When you experience one or more of these potential warning signs, then reach out right away!
The Dangers of Avoiding Treatment
Lack of treatment could mean the disorder grows in severity, until you lose the tooth or it is extracted to prevent infection from reaching other parts of your smile. Which is why when you experience prolonged discomfort, you need to see us for treatment right away. We will diagnose the issue with detailed digital x-ray and intraoral camera images, so we can plan treatment with accuracy and precision, and bring relief to your smile.
Root Canal Therapy
With a root canal, our team will numb the tooth to keep you comfortable, and then open it to remove the infected tissues from inside. We then clean the interior of the tooth and root canal thoroughly. A special restorative filling material is then added to the tooth, which helps fill it and protect the structure. The last step is to cap the tooth with a dental crown, one designed to look natural and handle your daily bite forces and pressures with ease. If you have any questions, then contact our team today to learn more about root canal therapy.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO, TX, ABOUT COSMETIC RESTORATIONS
Our team is ready to help you maintain a healthy and comfortable smile by addressing your advanced decay or infection. If you’re ready to schedule a visit with our team and talk about endodontic treatment, then contact our Sunny Smiles location on N Zaragoza Rd in El Paso, TX at 915-849-9000.