If you experience a toothache that lasts longer than a single day, do not put off telling your dentist. Constant dental pain is the primary symptom of a dangerous infection, that left alone could travel through your bloodstream to other parts of the body. By scheduling an emergency dental appointment, we can see you right away to X-ray your tooth, and determine if treatment is necessary. A root canal procedure can clean out all foreign material and seal the inner tooth chamber to protect your tooth from reinfection. This preserves the majority of your healthy tooth, while immediately dealing with the pain from your inflammatory response. This makes root canal therapy a highly valuable alternative to extracting your problem tooth.
At Sunny Smiles Family Dentistry, we understand that dental emergencies happen when you least expect them. This is why we schedule visits outside of your normal cleaning schedule to provide prompt relief when you need it most. By treating your infection, we prevent further damage from accumulating and can begin planning restorative treatments to repair the damage.
When Oral Bacteria Reach Your Tooth’s Inner Chamber
When a tooth is healthy, its outer enamel layer protects it from the thousands of strains of oral bacteria that live within your mouth. This means that any physical or chemical process that breaks this seal exposes your tooth to the possibility of infection. By combining a commitment to daily oral hygiene with regular dental cleanings, you remove the plaque and tartar deposits that produce acidic waste that eats your tooth’s surface.
You must also report any physical injuries to your teeth to your dentist as soon as they occur. While minor chips and scrapes may seem simply cosmetic, if they peel the enamel layer back, they can lead to infections as well.
Removing Your Infection And Repairing Your Smile
When we detect an infection at your emergency visit, we will suggest root canal therapy to preserve your tooth. We first apply a local anesthetic that numbs the affected area to provide comfort during treatment. Using special tools, we access the tooth’s inner chamber to clear out the entirety of your infection. Because this process permanently alters the outer portion of your tooth, we must plan a restoration to reseal it against future contamination. A dental crown can return valuable support to your bite while mimicking a healthy tooth’s look.
TALK WITH YOUR DENTIST AT SUNNY SMILES ABOUT RELIEVING YOUR TOOTHACHE
Toothaches should never be ignored. If you have symptoms of a dental infection, do not wait to report them. To find out more about how we help remove foreign material from the inside of your tooth, contact your Sunny Smiles location on N Zaragoza Rd in El Paso, TX at (915) 849-9000.