Pain-Free Root Canals for a Healthier Smile
Choosing Dr. Paul LeTellier Jr, DDS, MS, an experienced Endodontist for your root canal will ensure that you are working with a highly trained specialist who knows how to identify the source of your tooth pain and provide relief!
Dental decay can destroy a tooth if it is not stopped in time. It is one of the top reasons for tooth loss along with periodontal disease. Root canal therapy (RCT) can save an infected tooth if there is enough healthy tooth structure left after the decayed part of the tooth has been removed. Root canal therapy is general dentistry treatment that is also used to salvage a tooth that has breakage that extends into the pulp of the tooth.
Root canal therapy eliminates the pain that is caused by the swelling and inflammation of infection. The procedure is often misunderstood. The assumption is that RCT is a very painful procedure when in fact, it is the infection that causes the pain. RCT eliminates the infection and the bacteria that cause it so healing can take place.
When bacteria accumulates on the tooth surface, they produce enamel-dissolving acids that eat through the hard outer layer of the tooth. Beneath the layer of enamel is a somewhat softer layer of living tissue called the dentin. Decay can spread faster through the dentin layer because of its makeup. The tooth often becomes more sensitive as the decay moves closer to the nerve center, or pulp, of the tooth.
The pulp is located at the center of the tooth. It provides nourishment for it by way of the nerves and blood vessels that enter from the jaw at the apex of the tooth root. When decay attacks this nerve center, the tooth becomes quite sensitive to temperature changes and sweets. The pain caused by the infection can be quite severe, in some cases debilitating.
An abscess may form at the point where the nerves and blood vessels enter the root. The abscess is a pocket of pus and harmful bacteria. This infection can cause the bone around it to dissolve as toxins continue to accumulate. If they enter the blood stream, a serious medical condition could develop. Root canal therapy can stop the process and possibly save the infected tooth from extraction.
Root Canal Therapy Offers Pain Relief for Infected Teeth
When you have an infected tooth, RCT can be very effective in stopping the pain and promoting healing. In some instances, antibiotics may be prescribed to help eliminate the infection. The procedure involves completely removing the decay and infection from the tooth and roots.
Special instruments are used to clean out the root canal and remove the dead nerve tissue and blood vessels. After the necrotic tissue is removed, the canal is sterilized and sealed with a putty-like material to prevent bacteria from re-entering. Next, the remainder of the cavity is filled with an appropriate filling material.
Pain relief is achieved after the nerves and blood vessels are removed and the infection is brought under control. Your dentist may recommend a crown to provide protection and strength for the tooth. Removal of the nerves and blood vessels can lead to brittleness as the tooth is no longer able to receive nourishment. Covering the tooth with a crown protects it from breakage.
An infected tooth can cause excruciating pain. Rather than suffer through it, and take a chance on becoming seriously ill, contact Avalon Dental Group. Your tooth may be saved with root canal therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Modern root canal treatment is typically no more uncomfortable than a routine filling. Local anesthesia is used to ensure patient comfort, and most patients experience significant pain relief once the infection is removed.