Categories: Restorative Dentistry

How to Salvage an Infected Tooth

Tooth infections, like most infections, become more serious over time. In many cases, your body is able to fight off minor infections on its own. Tooth infections are different in this regard. A tooth infection, characterized initially by a cavity, will not get better with time. In fact, it will get worse. Only by taking action and visiting your dentist can you reverse the course of your oral health. A treatment like root canal therapy can actually salvage an infected tooth. Here’s how this treatment works, and when you might need to utilize it.

Root Canal Therapy Cleans Out Your Tooth’s Root Canals

Root canal therapy is targeted at repairing the root canals of your teeth. Your root canals carry your blood vessels, nerves, and nutrients to the tooth. They also carry these things away from the tooth. That’s what makes an infection in this area so dangerous. It’s easy for bacteria to spread to other oral tissues from your root canals. When your dentist performs root canal therapy on your tooth, they will carefully access the area inside the roots of your tooth and extract the infected tissue. This will prevent any further damage from infection.

Root Canal Therapy Is Typically Concluded with a Dental Crown

After your dentist removes the damaged tissue from your tooth, they will seal the canal to prevent future infection. Then, your dentist will likely shape the tooth and fit it for a dental crown. This dental crown will sit atop your existing root structure and allow your tooth to function as it did before the infection. You’ll still be able to chew food comfortably, and you won’t have a noticeable, darkened area on your tooth. The dental crown also preserves the existing root structure, which is what makes your tooth so strong and sturdy in the first place.

Cavities That Have Been Ignored May Need Root Canal Therapy

It’s best to avoid the need for root canal therapy with preventive treatment, but it’s important to know what cases may call for this treatment. Infected root canals are typically the result of an untreated cavity. A cavity is simply a hole in your tooth, created by bacteria that have built up on the surface. The deeper the cavity goes, the deeper the bacteria travel into your tooth, eventually infecting the dentin, pulp, and root canals. If you don’t treat a cavity quickly, it’s infection will continue to spread.

Treat Your Cavities Quickly at Gentle Smiles Family Dentistry

Visiting your dentist every six months, along with brushing and flossing daily, is the best way to avoid cavities. If you need a dental filling for your cavity, or if you need root canal therapy to treat an infection, you can receive quality, comfortable care at Gentle Smiles. Our team members go out of their way to create a relaxed environment, because they understand that dental treatment can be stressful for many individuals. Contact Gentle Smiles in Dallas, TX today by calling 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE) to experience our compassionate, effective, and individualized care.

Gentle Smiles

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