Regular dental care is ESSENTIAL. CLICK HERE to schedule your cleaning online.

Regular dental care is ESSENTIAL. CLICK HERE to schedule your cleaning online.

How to Treat a Root Canal Infection

You must have heard some people  complaining about how they had to get a root canal. Has the dentist asked you to get a root canal too? Do you know what a root canal is? It’s okay if you don’t, as we have all the information you need.

Root Canal Infection 

A human tooth is made up of different layers. The first hard coating takes care of all the sensitive structure that is inside. The first layer is called the enamel. This layer is the strongest part of your tooth, it functions as a shield and helps you chew on your food. The second layer is dentin. This layer is porous and acts as a barrier between the enamel and the pulp.

The pulp is the most sensitive part of the tooth as it is surrounded by several nerve endings that help you identify whether the food is cold or hot. Moreover, the pulp is also home to the cells that keep the health of your tooth and gums in check.  

Since the rest of the two layers have no nerve ending or sensitivity, the pulp is where you can easily get infections. If the pulp of your teeth is infected, your general dentistry specialist may immediately suggest you get a root canal. A root canal involves the extraction of the pulp. Once the infected pulp is extracted you do not need to worry about the infection as it cannot affect anything else. This way you can keep your tooth for longer and not need any sort of implants or dentures.

Symptoms of A Root Canal Infection 

How do you know when you should do and give your dentist a visit? There are several symptoms that can tell you if you need to go to a dentist and probably get a root canal. For your awareness let’s discuss them:

Toothache 

Toothache is the biggest symptom that there is something wrong with your teeth. If you are experiencing excruciating pain in any of your teeth, there are high chances that you might be suffering from an infection. Since the pulp is very sensitive, the infection can damage your nerve endings, causing a great deal of pain. If the pain is out of the ordinary, rush to the doctor so that you can get immediate medical assistance before the infection gets worse.

Gum Related Complications 

The infection can cause tenderness in your gums. If you feel that your gums are starting to become tender and you can even spot swelling, you must go to a dentist immediately. If you do not hurry, the swelling can even start to show on your face or jaw.

Discoloration

If a tooth is infected, you might see it changing color. The color can become dark and turn into grey or black if the case worsens. This is a very vivid symptom that your pulp has an infection and it is making its way to the topmost layer of your tooth. If you are not too careful and neglect it, your tooth will start to erode and break away.  

Bad Odor 

The infected pulp becomes infested by bacteria. The bacteria multiply and cause a very bad smell. This smell does not go away even if you constantly brush your teeth. The only way to get rid of it is by getting a root canal and extracting the infested pulp completely. If this is neglected it is possible that you cause the rest of your teeth to catch on the infection as well.

What Caused It? 

Now that you have an infection, you might be wondering, why? What caused you to have this infection in the first place? If you have previously had a root canal, it could be the reason for your infection. The procedure might not have to be done properly as it is very important to clean your teeth once you are through with the procedure. If the cleaning was not done properly, you might get the infection as you do now.

If you think that you are starting to get an infection, it is best that you go to a dentist the first chance you get. But what is a dentist going to do? How will they treat the infection?

Treatment Options

A large number of dentists are in favor of going for another root canal and this time to extract the infection. Doing this ensures that your tooth remains safe and only the infection gets extracted.

To do this the dentist will first give you a proper oral examination and that will include the examination of the exterior of the tooth as well as the interior. For the interior, they will ask you to get an x-ray.

The actual procedure will start with you going on local anesthesia and getting your gums covered. Your tooth will be drilled so that the dentist can have access to the pulp. Once they reach it, they will clean it completely making sure no traces of infection are left behind. Once the cleaning is complete, the area will be dried before it is filled and the crown is placed on top. The crown helps prevent any infections from returning. This procedure is usually done in a dental crown lab. If you prefer getting dentures instead, your dentist may recommend you to denture specialists.

The procedure is not as evasive as you might believe. Just make sure you do not delay it. That will only increase complications.    

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