What happens when your tooth develops an infection or a dental abscess? Without treatment, this can mean seriously uncomfortable symptoms, as well as a greater risk of losing the tooth completely. Fortunately, we can treat an infected tooth using a safe and comfortable endodontic procedure: root canal therapy.
Try Our Quiz on Repairing Infected Teeth
- True or False: Untreated cavities can lead to infection.
- True or False: Pain when chewing can be a warning sign.
- True or False: We can perform a root canal to treat the issue.
- True or False: Your tooth will look natural afterward.
Answer Key
- True. When a cavity forms, it will continue to grow larger and spread until treated. Eventfully, this can mean the bacteria comes into contact with your pulp. Sitting at the center of the tooth, the pulp is a bundle of nerve tissue that keeps the tooth healthy and functional. When the bacteria reach the pulp, an infection can form that threatens the tooth’s healthy and stability.
- True. Along with pain when biting down and chewing, you could experience toothaches, tooth sensitivity, swelling around the tooth in question, fever, and even a foul tasting discharge. If one or more of these warning signs applies to you, see your dentist right away.
- True. A root canal procedure involves opening the tooth and removing the infected tissue. Next, the dentist will clean the inside of the tooth and root canals before adding a restorative filling. Finally, a crown is added to prevent further decay or infection from occurring.
- True. In addition to protecting the tooth, the crown is also made from lifelike ceramic. With ceramic, the tooth will look like a natural one and match the rest of your smile. Using CEREC technology, we can actually create and place the restoration in the same visit.
Do You Have Questions About Root Canal Therapy?
To stop dental infections, we may recommend a comfortable root canal therapy procedure! For more information about our treatments, from Clear Aligner Systems braces to dental implants, contact our team today. Schedule a consultation by calling Calcagno Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Rochester, MN, today at (507) 281-3659.