Treating Infected Dental Pulps and Tooth Roots with Root Canal Treatment

When your teeth are extremely damaged or dead, your dentist might recommend a root canal treatment instead of a filling. It helps eliminate the decay in your tooth’s pulp and root. The teeth have an outer enamel layer followed by dentin and a softcore inside that extends to the roots in the jawbone. The core has a pulp that consists of nerves, connective tissues, and blood vessels. When decay attacks the core, it becomes infected. Our dentist at Bella Via Dental in Mesa, AZ, will perform a root canal treatment near you to clean your cavity. You’ll require one or two appointments for your procedure to be complete. Learn more about root canal treatment benefits in this article.

What is Root Canal?

This is a common procedure that dentists perform to clean the inner part of the tooth’s root. It also acts as an alternative to dental extraction in some cases. Root canal treatment relieves the pain caused by a damaged and decaying tooth. The process can irritate the surrounding nerves and gums, but the pain should resolve after a few days. If the pain exceeds, visit a dentist near you for further cleaning of the canals. Root canal treatment leaves your natural tooth in place and prevents further damage.

Symptoms of Root Canal

There are several signs you should pay attention to when they appear. If you experience some of these symptoms, you should visit your dentist immediately.

• Sensitivity to cold and heat

When you take warm food or beverage, your teeth may hurt if unhealthy. Teeth salvaged by decay can be sensitive when you eat ice cream or drink iced water. The sensitivity might feel like a sharp pain and dull ache. If the sensitivity extends even when you stop drinking or eating, you may need a root canal to ease the pain. Your tooth sensitivity might also be an indication of infected blood vessels and nerves.

• Swollen Gums

Swelling outside the root tip is caused by acids of dead pulp tissues. Swollen gums near an aching tooth are a symptom that requires a root canal. The swelling might feel tender and may disappear after some time. Also, the presence of a pimple in your gums called a gum boil is a warning sign. When the pimple ooze pus, it can give you an unpleasant taste leading to bad breath in your mouth.

• Tooth discoloration

Having an infection in the teeth can lead to tooth discoloration. The teeth get a grey appearance due to the breakdown of the internal tissue that damages the teeth’ roots. When tooth pulps die, it leads to an inadequate supply of blood, showing the need for a root canal.

Facts about Root Canal Treatment

Here are some facts about a root canal:

• Root canal surgery is not a permanent solution: Getting a root canal doesn’t protect you from getting cavities. However, brushing twice daily, flossing, and paying regular visits to your dentist, can last for years.
• Pain should not fool you: If the pain of a tooth pulp becomes less intense, it doesn’t mean that the infection is gone. Often, the pain starts fading away when the pulp begins to die. So don’t hesitate to visit your dentist even when the pain disappears.

Is Root Canal Procedure Painful?

A root canal procedure seems complicated, but there’s a little pain because our dentist in Phoenix uses anesthesia on your gums close to the affected teeth. You’ll be comfortable during the whole procedure. In case of fever, your dentist will offer you antibiotics to fight the infection help reduce pain. Also, the dentist will use a rubber around your teeth that prevent the spread of any infected material in your mouth.

Can Somebody Still Get Pain in A Treated Root Canal?

It is possible to experience pain in a tooth that had a root canal. Causes of the pain may be:

• Your dentist did not completely disinfect the root canal due to complicated root history
• Having a new decay that infects the root canal material
• Your root canal is not completely healed

Benefits of Root Canal Treatment

• Protects your teeth from further decay
• It prevents the jawbone from degenerating
• Root canal curbs the spread of infection to the surrounding teeth
• It enhances overall oral health

What Are the Measures to Prevent a Root Canal?

Here are some root canal prevention tips:

• Flossing daily between your teeth
• Having your teeth cleaned by a professional dentist at least once a year
• Brush your teeth twice daily