When a tooth develops an infection or abscess, treatment is crucial for preventing the loss of your teeth. In today’s blog, your Woodland Hills, CA, dentist will explain how we use an endodontic procedure commonly referred to as a root canal to save smiles and offer lifelike and long-lasting repair!
The Link Between Infection and Tooth Loss
When a tooth becomes infected, this means the inner pulp, which keeps a tooth alive and functional, is exposed to harmful bacteria. Over time, the situation could become more severe and eventually, the inner pulp could die, which essentially kills the tooth. At this point, we will likely need to extract the tooth to prevent dental infection from reaching surrounding teeth. The tooth could also fall out with time. Tooth loss then leads to other serious oral health complications, ranging from misalignment and TMJ disorder to bruxism (teeth grinding) and even an aged appearance.
Causes and Signs of Trouble
The issue starts when the inner pulp becomes exposed, which could happen when a cavity forms and isn’t treated. As the decay grows more severe, this reaches the pulp. Likewise, a cracked or chipped tooth could leave the inner dentin and pulp vulnerable to issues like cavities and infection. Common warning signs include tooth sensitivity and toothaches, headaches, jaw pain and facial discomfort, swelling near the tooth, and a discharge from it. If you encounter one or more of these warning signs, then please contact our team today. We can perform a detailed exam with digital technology to find out if you benefit from a root canal procedure.
The Root Canal Treatment
If you need a root canal, we begin by administering a local anesthetic and sedation to ensure you feel calm and comfortable during your treatment process. Next, we open the tooth itself so we can access and remove the inner tissues that have become infected. We clean the interior of the tooth and then add a restorative filling material. Finally, we design and create a crown to cap the tooth and ensure your remaining structure is safe, and that your tooth continues to look natural and blend with your smile. If you have any questions about our approach to restorative dental care, or about our endodontic treatments in particular, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Symptoms of an Infected Tooth?
We want to help our patients by offering repairs that look natural and improve the health of your smile. For more information on our approach to restorative dentistry, then please schedule a consultation by calling Woodland Hills Dental Arts in Woodland Hills, CA today at 818-347-5124. We also proudly welcome patients from Thousand Oaks, Westlake, Encino, Sherman Oaks, and all surrounding communities.