Blog

Even if we try to take care of our teeth, routine wear and tear, lifestyle or genetic factors can affect the health of teeth, leading to the formation of cavities. When identified early and treated on time, your dentist can fix dental decay and cavities with fillings. However, if the cavities are deep and have infected the inner tooth pulp chamber, a patient would need a root canal procedure to treat the infection and prevent tooth loss.

What is a root canal treatment?

A root canal procedure is a solution to relieve dental pain and save infected teeth, thus preventing the need for dental restorations. When an infection is detected inside a tooth, a root canal treatment (RCT) is the most effective treatment to save the tooth from extraction. 

The treatment primarily fixes problems affecting the tooth pulp, thus preventing the associated sensitivity, pain, visible injury, or swelling resulting from a root canal infection. 

A root canal procedure does not involve removing the real tooth roots. Instead, the inner pulp of the infected teeth that consists of the nerves and blood supply for the tooth is removed. 

When is a Root Canal treatment required?

Patients may require root canal treatment for various reasons, including:

• Pulp Infection
• Tooth Decay
• Moderate to severe toothache
• A fractured, injured, chipped, or cracked tooth
• Damage to the tooth nerve
• Red, soft, swollen, painful gums
• Increased teeth sensitivity to cold and hot foods
• Darkened teeth
• Pain when biting or chewing

Why Is a Root Canal Treatment Necessary?

When a tooth develops a deep crack or cavity, bacteria in the pulp chamber will multiply and move into the openings, thus infecting the tooth pulp. When left untreated, an abscess can form, causing pain and swelling, further deteriorating the jawbone as well as your overall health. 

Besides, the infection of the root canal may also lead to the following complications:

• Bone loss
• Swelling of the face, neck, and head
• Hole on the gums

Your dentist can fix these dental concerns and save the tooth from extraction by treating the infection using a root canal treatment.

Root canal procedure

Root canal treatment typically requires one to three dental visits. Before beginning the procedure, our dentist assesses the infected tooth and the surrounding bones by taking dental X-rays to evaluate the extension of the damage. We start the procedure by numbing the tooth and the neighboring area using an anesthetic. A dental dam is placed to prevent saliva from dripping to the infected area and contaminating the region. Through the small opening made on the tooth's surface, the infected pulp tissue is extracted, and the empty canals are cleaned and disinfected using water and sodium hypochlorite. The empty space is then packed with a biocompatible rubbery material called 'gutta-percha' that guards the tooth root against future infection. If the top of the tooth is damaged, we recommend fitting with a crown, filling, or other dental restoration to restore its aesthetics and functionality. 

If you want to know more about root canal treatment, call Dawkins Family Dental at (662) 234-5725 to schedule an appointment.