When a tooth becomes infected, this could mean serious discomfort that grows more severe with time. To avoid losing the tooth and protect the stability and alignment of your smile, your Livonia, MI, dentist may suggest treatment with an endodontic procedure. In today’s blog, find out how a root canal could help save your smile.
The Causes and Symptoms of an Infected Tooth
Each of your teeth are composed of three main parts. The inner pulp, which sits at the center of your tooth and into the root canals, keeps each tooth alive and functional. The pulp is surrounded by dentin, a sensitive material that makes up most of your tooth. The outer enamel is a very strong layer that coats the teeth and protects the dentin and pulp. An infection develops when oral bacteria come into contact with the pulp, made possible through an untreated cavity or possibly an injured tooth. Warning signs include tooth sensitivity, toothaches, pain when you bite down or chew, swelling or a discharge near the tooth, or headaches. If you begin to experience persistent pain around one or more of your teeth, please let us know right away.
The Risk of Tooth Loss
Unless treated, the infection could grow so severe the pulp dies, effectively killing your tooth. At this stage, we may need to extract the tooth to prevent the spread of infection to the rest of your smile. Or it could simply fall out on tis own. The resulting gap itself could lead to misalignment and other complications. However, with endodontic treatment we address the infected tooth and prevent these complications, restoring comfort to your smile once again.
Root Canal Therapy
To ensure you feel comfortable, we will administer a local anesthetic and possibly sedation. Next, we need to open the tooth to access and remove the infected tissues from within. The next step involves cleaning the interior of the tooth and adding a special rubber-like restorative material. The final step involves capping the tooth with a crown, which not only looks natural, but protects the entire tooth from further damage, decay, or infection. Afterward, routine care, like brushing and flossing, a healthier diet, and visits for checkups and cleanings, could then protect the smile from further cases. If you have any questions about treating infected teeth with endodontic procedures, then contact our team today. We would also love to schedule your next checkup and cleaning!
Do You Have an Aching Tooth?
We don’t want to see a painful infection impact your quality of life, or cause you to lose a tooth. For more information on how we treat an infected tooth and restore smiles, then call the office of James Stewart, DDS in Livonia, MI, today at (734) 425-4400.