When a tooth develops a cavity, we often treat the issue in one visit with a filling. But what happens when tooth develops an infection? To treat the infection and prevent serious complications, your El Paso, TX, dentists may use a root canal treatment to restore smiles and help you enjoy optimal oral health once more!
Will the Procedure Be Comfortable?
We always take steps to help minimize discomfort and ensure our patients enjoy their time in the office. Prior to a root canal treatment, our team will administer a local anesthetic around the infected tooth. If you have anxiety about this procedure or about seeing the dentist in general, then we discuss sedation dentistry to help you enter a calm and relaxed state with little to no memory of the procedure itself. Don’t let fears about the procedure to stand between you and a healthier, more attractive smile!
What Causes an Infected Tooth?
A dental infection occurs when harmful bacteria makes contact with the inner pulp, a bundle of nerve tissues sitting at the center of the tooth. The pulp is typically surrounded by dentin and protected by the outer later of enamel. However, should the enamel become compromised, say through plaque buildup weakening the protective layer or a crack or chip forming in the tooth, then a cavity could form. As the cavities grows and spreads through the dentin, it could make contact with the pulp.
People then encounter tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks, as well as toothaches, pain when eating, swelling near the tooth, a fever, or even a foul discharge for the tooth itself. If you encounter one or more of these potential warning signs, then let us know. Treatment helps prevent the infection from effectively killing a pulp, a complication that could lead to the spread of infection and in some cases, the loss of the tooth!
The Procedure Itself
The procedure begins with the dentist opening the tooth and then extracting the infected tissue from within. We next clean the interior of the tooth before placing a restorative filling material. After we cure this material, we cap the tooth with a custom-made dental crown. The crown will not only look natural, but will be able to withstand serious bite forces and pressures, protecting your smile. If you have any questions or concerns about this endodontic treatment, or if you experience serious pain in and around one of your teeth, then contact our team today.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO, TX ABOUT TREATING INFECTED TEETH
At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, our team would like to help you enjoy optimal oral health, avoiding the loss of your teeth to infection. For more information on restorative treatment options, contact your El Paso, TX, dentists at Sunny Smiles on Dyer Street by calling 915-859-7000.