Having a root canal treatment for your tooth infection can give you relief. This condition can be debilitating. It can prevent you from performing your daily tasks. The discomfort can even hinder your nutrient intake. If you want to know how a root canal treatment can help you with your tooth infection, here are the details.
The tooth’s pulp chamber or pulp is the central part of a tooth. It is a soft, delicate part containing connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. The nerve of the tooth is in the legs or root of the tooth. These root canals go from the tip of the root to the center pulp. The nerve is not that crucial to the tooth’s function and health after it erupts. It only has a sensory function to detect cold and hot temperatures.
A damaged pulp starts to break down. Bacteria start to overwhelm the chamber. This results in pulp abscess or infection. The infection forms a pus-filled pocket at the end of the root. This is an urgent call for root canal treatment.
An infection in the root canal can result in bone loss at the tip of the tooth root. Swelling can spread to the head, face, or neck. The drainage can extend toward the side of the tooth. This opening will release pus to the inner lining of the cheek.
The dentist will take a digital X-ray to see the status of the patient’s root canals and the extent of the infection. Then, the dentist will inject a local anesthetic into the area near the affected tooth. The nerve is already dead at this point. Some patients may not need anesthesia anymore. The anesthetic will ensure a painless procedure. This will make the patient relax during the procedure.
A rubber dam will isolate the tooth and keep it dry. Then, the dentist will drill an access hole into the affected tooth. This will allow the dentist to remove the infected pulp. Root canal files will help accomplish this task. It will scrape and clean the pulp chamber. The dentist will use sodium hypochlorite or water to flush out the debris.
After disinfecting and drying the tooth, the dentist will place medication inside the tooth. This will clear the chamber of infection. Some dentists wait a week before sealing the tooth. Others complete the root canal treatment on the same day. This often needs a temporary filling on the exterior hole. This prevents contaminants from entering the tooth.
The last appointment will involve sealing the tooth with gutta-percha. Tooth restoration will happen as well. The dentist will place a custom-fit dental crown over the treated tooth. A strong adhesive will keep the drown in place. This restoration will hold the tooth together. It will protect the tooth from further damage or infection.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Root Canal Treatment in Atlanta, GA
The dentist will use this therapy to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by nerve infection. Root canal treatment is not painful at all. It is a crucial step in regaining your dental health. An appointment with your dentist can help prepare you for your upcoming root canal treatment.
Request an appointment or call Pampered Smiles at 404-891-9489 for an appointment in our Atlanta office.
A broken tooth can result from severe decay, cracks, or trauma. Continue reading to learn whether a dentist will recommend a root canal during the repair process. A broken tooth means a portion of the tooth’s structure above the gum line has come off. You should schedule a dentist appointment immediately after the incident to…
Root canal treatment addresses issues like severe damage to a tooth, deep decay, and infections. The procedure has a bad reputation as one of the most painful dental treatments you can get, but that simply isn’t true. Local anesthetics are used during root canals, so patients do not feel pain.Treating a tooth with root canal…
Root canal treatment has a bad reputation, one that can be traced back to a single erroneous research report from the 1920s. At the time, a major dental publication released a report claiming that root canal operations cause disease, arthritis, and other problems. The dentist advised that teeth should be extracted and that root canals…
Dental implants are a popular and effective treatment option for missing teeth. However, it can be overwhelming to learn about the details of the entire process. In addition, it is normal to have questions about the procedure. This article will review the most commonly asked questions and help you determine if this procedure may be…
Receiving dentures is a straightforward process, but it is determined by the type of dentures you receive. There are three types of dentures we will consider for your case, and in doing so, we will walk you through the process in depth at the time of your appointment. This article strives to provide you with…