01 Apr How Root Canals Can Save Your Tooth
When a tooth becomes infected, a filling may not be enough to treat the issue and prevent tooth loss. Instead, you may benefit from a safe and gentle endodontic treatment known as a root canal. Our team of oral health experts in Lancaster, OH, can employ a root canal to stop discomfort related to the infection and prevent your tooth from being lost!
The Risk That Infections Pose
Severe tooth decay or a major injury to your tooth could expose the sensitive inner pulp to harmful oral bacteria, which causes a tooth to become infected. Without treatment, the infection will increase in severity, leading to pain when you eat, prolonged toothaches and sensitivity, swelling near the tooth, aches in the face and jaw, and even a discharge from the tooth. Lack of treatment could also mean the tooth needs extraction to avoid the spread of infection. The tooth could also simply fall out eventually. To avoid painful symptoms and keep your smile whole, our team can save your tooth with root canal therapy.
The Root Canal Procedure
To get started, we will conduct a detailed examination of your smile to assess the cause and extent of your infection. Once we do, we can plan the procedure in detail. We will numb the tooth to ensure you’re comfortable during treatment. If you have dental anxiety, our team can offer sedation to help you enter a calm state.
Our team next opens the tooth to access and remove the infected tissue from inside, and we then thoroughly clean the interior of the tooth and the root canals. The next step is to add a unique restorative material to the inside of the tooth. Known as gutta percha, this can fill the tooth and protect it. We finish the process by attaching a crown to the tooth, which covers it and prevents reinfection and decay. We take care to ensure your finished crown looks natural and provides quality restoration.
Avoiding Further Trouble
Our team also wants you to know how to lower your risk of tooth decay and infection. We recommend taking time to brush your teeth twice a day and floss every evening. Avoiding too much sugar and starch in your diet can help as well, as this limits the risk of decay. Finally, be sure you see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months, which helps kids and adults alike enjoy better oral health.
Find Out More About Our Restorative Treatments With Friendly Dental!
We don’t want your infected tooth to cause tooth loss, which is why we offer endodontic dental care. To learn more about treating serious decay and infected teeth, give us a call at Friendly Dental Care in Lancaster, OH at (740) 687-6105!