Root Canal Therapy
Your adult teeth are also called your permanent teeth. After all, they’re meant to last a lifetime. However, decay and dental injuries can cause serious problems, including infections. For a long time, compromised teeth were pulled. Today, Victor Nitu DDS can treat infected teeth, preventing extractions, with a root canal.
When is a Root Canal Necessary?
When you’re told that you need a root canal, it means that you have an infection inside of your tooth. The soft tissue, or pulp, inside of the tooth has become infected and inflamed or swollen. This often causes a very painful toothache, which is one of the most common indications that there is something wrong.
An infection happens because bacteria have gotten into the tooth. This may have happened because you have suffered a facial injury. You may have chipped or cracked your tooth. Bacteria may also get in as a result of a cavity.
While a toothache is typically the most well-known symptom of an infection, it is possible for you to have an infection and never experience any pain at all. Sometimes, you may develop a toothache, but it goes away after a time. Just because the toothache suddenly disappears, this doesn’t mean that the infection is gone. It can indicate that the nerve in the tooth has died. If you think you may have developed a tooth infection, it is important that you call right away.
What’s Involved with a Root Canal
When suspecting a tooth infection, the first step is actually to diagnose it. We can do this with a dental exam, as well as digital x-rays. The x-rays will show us what is happening underneath the gums. With them, we can see issues such as root damage, root decay, or an abscess. Following the diagnosis of an infection, a root canal is typically recommended.
Your root canal begins with a local anesthetic, which will numb the tooth and the surrounding area so that you feel no pain or discomfort. A rubber dam is placed around the tooth to isolate it. Next, we drill a small access hole into the top of the tooth, through which we can perform your root canal.
Once the access hole is made, we are then able to remove the infected pulp and clean the whole inside of the tooth. This includes cleaning and even shaping, the canals. A medication may also be applied to help get rid of any bacteria that may be missed. Next, a rubber-like material called gutta-percha is placed inside of the tooth. The function of this material is to seal the canals so that new bacteria cannot get inside. Finally, a temporary filling is placed. This filling helps to seal the access hole, preventing a new infection, until you can receive either a permanent filling or a dental crown. Regardless of which restoration is chosen, it should be placed as quickly as possible to help protect the tooth from developing a new infection or experiencing other complications.
Following an infection, a root canal can effectively restore your tooth. Contact Victor Nitu DDS at (480) 536-8228 today to learn more.
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