When your tooth develops an infection, this could lead to serious discomfort and over time, even the loss of the tooth altogether. To offer relief and preserve your smile, you may need more than a dental filling. In today’s blog, your Celina, TX, dentist will discuss how we use an endodontic procedure known as root canal therapy to treat an infected tooth.
The Causes of an Infected Tooth
An infection means that harmful oral bacteria has made contact with the pulp. Your pulp is a group of living tissues that oversees the flow of blood and nutrients through the root canals, keeping your tooth healthy. Untreated cavities, or serious injuries, could expose the pulp and lead to serious pain when you bite down or chew, a discharge from the tooth, swelling near it, or persistent aches and sensitivity. If you have regular pain in a tooth, then let us know right away. Otherwise, the tooth could require extraction to prevent the spread of infection, or fall out on its own.
Treatment to Avoid Tooth Loss
If we identify the presence of an infection when we examine your tooth, we will move forward with treatment. First, we want to make sure you feel comfortable, so we will administer a local anesthetic and discuss our sedation options too. We then open the tooth to take out the infected tissues and clean the interior of it thoroughly. Afterward, we will add a special filling material and cap the tooth with a dental crown. The crown is custom-made to ensure a lifelike appearance, but will be durable enough to absorb daily bite forces and protect the tooth from further decay or infection. For many patients, the entire procedure is comparable to receiving a simple dental filling.
Preventive Actions
You can also take measures to help prevent the onset of an infected tooth. For example, be sure you start each day by brushing for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. You need to do the same every evening as well. Flossing is helpful too, as this removes bits of food a toothbrush cannot reach. You should also cut back on sugary foods and drinks, and if possible, see us every six months. A checkup lets us watch for the earliest stages of decay, treating the issue before you experience pain. We also clean the teeth to remove all plaque and tartar, which helps prevent cavities too.
If you have any questions about how we treat an infected tooth, then contact our team today.
Talk To Your Celina, TX Dentist’s Office About Root Canal Therapy
Our team wants to bring relief to your smile with endodontic treatment. To learn more about how we treat infected teeth or abscessed ones, then contact your Celina, TX, dentist, Dr. Newton, by calling (214) 851-0130.
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