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Inside your teeth is a soft material called pulp that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. If this pulp becomes infected, it can cause severe tooth pain. In some cases, that infection will require root canal therapy.
WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?
Nerves enter at the tip of the tooth’s roots and run through the center of the tooth in small, thin root canals, which join up in the pulp chamber. Each tooth has at least one root canal but may contain more.
WHY MIGHT I NEED ROOT CANAL THERAPY?
Injury or trauma to a tooth may cause the pulp to become inflamed or infected; eventually, the pulp may die. Damaged or dead pulp leads to increased blood flow and cellular activity, creating pressure inside the tooth that cannot be relieved. This may result in pain when biting down or chewing with the affected tooth, or when consuming hot or cold drinks. Without treatment, the infection may spread, the bone around the tooth may degenerate, and the tooth may fall out.
WHAT IS ROOT CANAL THERAPY?
Root canal therapy is a procedure to remove damaged or dead pulp. After the pulp chamber and root canal are cleaned out and reshaped, the canal is filled with a rubber-like substance called gutta per- cha to prevent recontamination, and the tooth is permanently sealed.
Treatment usually involves one to three appointments. After cleaning and reshap- ing, the dentist may seal the tooth with a temporary crown, leave it open to drain, or fill the canals, depending on the tooth’s condition. A topical medication also may be applied in the area to fight bacteria.
Temporary fillings will be removed on subsequent visits. If the tooth is still weak after the pulp chamber and canal are filled, a metal or fiber-reinforced resin post may be used to reinforce the tooth.
Finally, the area is permanently sealed, and a crown usually is placed over the tooth to reinforce its structure and improve its appearance.
ARE THERE ANY POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS?
On rare occasions, new infections may occur. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including an undetected crack in the root of the tooth, a defective restoration, or the breakdown of an inner sealing material. In these cases, additional follow-up and treatment may be necessary.
HOW WILL I FEEL AFTER TREATMENT?
Tissue inflammation in the area may cause some discomfort. This usually can be controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers. Aftercare includes maintaining regular visits with your dentist, brushing for two minutes twice a day, flossing once a day, and avoiding chewing hard foods with the treated tooth.
ARE THERE ANY ALTERNATIVES TO ROOT CANAL THERAPY?
The only alternative to root canal therapy is extraction of the infected tooth. This can eventually cause the surrounding teeth to move, which may result in a bad bite that ultimately requires an implant or bridge. It’s always best to keep your original tooth if possible, and root canal therapy allows you to do so.
ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM TOOTH PAIN, A TOOTHACHE, OR AN ABSCESSED TOOTH?
You might be wondering why your tooth started hurting and what you can do to make the pain go away. Our team at Mint Hill Smiles is here to help!
There are many causes of tooth pain and every individual tooth is different. The most common causes of pain are tooth decay, broken or chipped teeth, an infection, or an abscessed tooth. Decayed and broken teeth have opening in the tooth enamel which allows bacteria to infect the center of the tooth. The center of the tooth is called the pulp which is where the nerve in your tooth lives. When bacteria get close to the nerve this causes the nerve to become inflamed which results in pain.
Sometimes the nerve of a tooth dies as a result of an infection. This can cause the toothache to stop, but it doesn’t mean the infection has healed. The bacteria continue to spread and destroy bone in your jaw. If you had a bad toothache that suddenly went away, it is extremely important you see a dentist even though the pain has subsided.
As the infection continues to grow, if left untreated, you may develop an abscessed tooth and experience symptoms such as:
- Throbbing pain
- Sharp shooting pain
- Pain when chewing
- Bad breath
- Redness and swelling of the gums
- A draining sore on the side of the gums
- Swelling of the face
- Fever
- Swollen neck glands
Here at Mint Hill Smiles, we are experts at treating infected and abscessed teeth. When you call with a problem we will make every effort to see you the same day to help relieve your pain. When you come in, expect to have the doctor look in your mouth to determine the source of the infection and have X-rays of the tooth taken to look at the root of your tooth and see how far the infection has spread. Our doctors take the time to sit down and explain everything they are seeing and discuss what options are available to treat the infection and address any other concerns you may have. As dental health providers our goals are to eliminate your infection, preserve your tooth, prevent complications, and limit the need for more emergency treatment in the future. We understand that your situation may be unique and here at Mint Hill Smiles we will tailor our recommendations to fit your lifestyle, budget, and schedule.
Depending on the severity of your infected or abscessed tooth, we may prescribe you an antibiotic and a pain medication to relieve your discomfort. Over-the-counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) also work well to temporarily relieve tooth pain. In addition, to eliminate the infection for good the abscess will need to be drained. This can be done through the tooth itself in a procedure called root canal therapy; or the tooth can be extracted so the infection can drain through the extraction socket. The best way to find out which option will benefit you the most and get you out of pain as soon as possible is to call and schedule a consultation with our doctors.
I’M SCARED TO HAVE A ROOT CANAL BUT I DON’T WANT TO LOSE MY TOOTH. WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
Unfortunately, once the root and the bone supporting the tooth becomes infected the only way to prevent the infection from coming back and save the tooth is to clean out the bacteria. At its heart, root canal therapy is just a scary phrase which means we are cleaning the infection and bacteria from the inside of a tooth. All our doctors are experts at getting patients numb so you won’t feel anything during the procedure and the team at Mint Hill Smiles works hard to make your visit short and keep you comfortable the entire time you are here. Don’t assume the root of your tooth is infected until you come in and see us. Oftentimes, sensitive teeth that cause occasional pain can be treated without the need for a root canal. If you are having tooth sensitivity, pain, or swelling, call us today to schedule a consultation.
WHAT CAN I DO TO AVOID HAVING TOOTHACHES IN THE FUTURE?
Brushing and flossing your teeth at home, modifying your diet, and coming in for regular cleanings and checkups is the best way to prevent toothaches before they occur. With the aid of digital x-rays we are able to find and treat cavities before they become big enough to cause pain. This allows you to avoid inconvenient surprises and the need for more extensive dental work in the future.