Relief from toothaches caused by infection is possible. With an endodontic treatment known as a root canal, our team can provide relief and keep your smile from developing tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about how we protect smiles with root canal treatment, so you avoid discomfort and the risk of tooth loss!
The Causes of Painful Dental Infection
How does a tooth become infected? This could be due to issues like an untreated cavity or even an injury to the tooth. When harmful oral bacteria can bypass the outer enamel and eventually reach the inner pulp, the tooth’s nerve center, then an infection develops. Treatment is needed to address this before the infection essentially kills the tooth and begins to reach other teeth or move on the jawbone itself, leading to more severe complications. Your tooth could require extraction, or could become lost on its own.
When you experience persistent pain in a tooth, discomfort when you bite down or chew, or aches in the face or jaw, then let us know right away. Other symptoms may include swelling near the aching tooth or even a discharge from it, as well as fever and headaches.
Preparing Your Smile
When we see you, our team will take detailed digital x-ray images of the tooth, which allows us to assess the position and severity of the infected tooth. We can then plan treatment in detail, so we can address the issue with a root canal to bring relief and prevent serious problems down the road. To ensure you are comfortable, we will administer a local anesthesia to the area to numb it. If you have anxiety or other options that make undergoing dental care a difficult process for you, we could also discuss sedation to help you enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, with little to no memory of the procedure at all!
Root Canal Therapy
When you are prepared and ready, our team will begin the root canal by opening the tooth to access the infected tissue and remove them from the inside of the tooth. We then clean the interior of your tooth and add a special restorative filling material, known as gutta percha. Finally, we cap the tooth with a custom-made crown, one that looks natural and safeguards the remaining structure against further decay or infection. If you have any questions, then contact our team today to learn more!
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. for Endodontic Treatment
Don’t live with an aching tooth, keep your smile full with treatment, such as a root canal procedure! To find out more about treating your infected tooth or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
