When there is an infection in the tooth pulp, the root canal can treat it. The tooth pulp is basically the layer that is present in your teeth’s innermost layer. In the United States, there are about fifteen million root canal treatments every year. Usually, these treatments are harmless.
If you do not want to get a root canal done, try to brush your teeth after every meal you have in a day. You should also floss your teeth on a daily basis and go for dental checkups on a regular basis. Root canal therapy is also called endodontic therapy.
If you want to keep your teeth safe and in good condition, it is essential that you follow a dental routine. In Illinois, you can find many dental services where you can get your dental condition treated.
There are different steps involved in root canal treatment, such as removing the pulp that is infected, filling that needs to be put from where the pulp was extracted, and placing a dental crown on the tooth that was affected. If your pulp is infected, seek help from a family dentistry of River Forest.
Why do you need to get root canal treatment done?
If the bacteria make it to the pulp, it can get infected. It can also result in inflammation. Such an infection can take place in the following situations:
- A deep cavity needs to be treated.
- Damaged teeth and bacteria are infecting the tooth pulp.
What are the different signs that you might need a root canal?
If you have an infected tooth, you are going to need root canal treatment to get rid of the infection. The teeth might get infected without showing any symptoms. If you do notice symptoms, they can be in the form of:
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Persistent tooth pain:
Tooth pain that is persistent and is not going away. There are different things that can lead to tooth pain. Pain can come from the depths of your tooth, and it may spread to the jaw as well. If such is the case, it might be because of infection.
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Teeth might hurt when pressure is exerted:
If you feel hurt when you touch a particular tooth or feel hurt when you eat something, it can be because the nerves get damaged.
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Noticing swelling in the gums:
If your tooth is infected, your gums are likely to get swollen and might also feel tender.
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Discoloration in teeth:
When the tooth pulp gets infected, it does not let blood reach the tooth properly. It can lead to discoloration, and your teeth may start to turn dark.
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Pimple on the gum:
If your teeth are infected, you may notice pimples on your gums. They can be filled with pus that may cause irritation and pain.
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Losing a tooth:
The bones that support your teeth can get weak because of the pus that may come out from your infected pulp. This can result in your tooth losing its grip, and you may end up losing it.
What is the procedure for root canal treatment?
There are dental X-rays that your dentist is likely to take before starting the procedure. Let us look at the steps in brief:
- Injecting anesthesia to numb the area.
- Putting a flexible rubber on the infected tooth keeps your tooth dry.
- Drilling a hole in the crown to get to see the pulp.
- Making use of dental instruments to remove the nerves.
- Disinfecting the pulp is the next step.
- Filling the empty space with “gutta-percha.”
- Temporary dental filling is used to seal the tooth.
- Finally, a dental crown is placed on the tooth.
Get your dental checkup done!
In order to know if your symptoms are an indication of infected tooth pulp, you are going to need to get checked by a professional dentist. Only after taking a closer look can professionals tell if you are going to need dental treatment for your oral health issue.
