When you have serious pain in your smile, the kind that makes eating a difficult task, then you may have more than just a cavity. In fact, you could have an infected or abscessed tooth, which means unless treatment is administered, you could lose the tooth altogether! In today’s blog, your Newhall, CA, dentist talks about treating these issues with root canal therapy.
The Causes of an Infected Tooth
An infection happens when harmful bacteria makes contact with your inner pulp, a group of living tissues that keeps your tooth alive and healthy. The pulp is surrounding by dentin, and protected by the outermost layer of enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. However, if a cavity forms due to weakened or damaged enamel, then the decay could spread through the dentin unless treated, eventually allowing bacteria to meet the pulp and allow an infection to form. Untreated tooth decay, cracked or chipped teeth, or teeth worn down due to teeth grinding could be causes and warning signs could include pain when eating, a discharge from the tooth, swelling near the tooth, fever, or headaches.
The Root Canal Treatment Process
A root canal treatment is an endodontic procedure that halts the infection and help preserve your tooth, preventing it from becoming lost and leaving gaps in your smile. We begin with anesthesia and for nervous patients, sedation, which helps people enter a calm and relaxed state. Next, we open the tooth itself to access the inner structure and remove the infected portions. We clean the interior of the tooth and fill it with a special material. Next, we create a crown and cap the tooth with it. The crown protects the inner structure from further decay or infection, and allows you to continue to eat your favorite foods, as this restoration can absorb daily bite forces.
Will My Tooth Look Natural?
Yes! The crown we place will be custom-made based on detailed impressions and images we gather of your tooth. We often use materials such as ceramic, which can absorb bite forces and also be shaded to match the color of nearby teeth. The material also contains translucent properties, much like natural enamel. You then leave the office able to smile with confidence, as no one will be able to tell your tooth received a root canal. If you have any questions about treating infected teeth, or about our lifelike restorations, then please contact our team today.
Ready for a Restorative Visit?
If you begin to experience serous pain in one or more of your teeth, then please let us know right away. To learn more about restorative dentistry, please schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.