Does Your Tooth Hurt? A Root Canal Could Help!

When you have severe pain in a tooth, this means you need to see us right away. Your discomfort could be a sign of an infected tooth. To restore it and prevent tooth loss, you may need endodontic treatment. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist talks about the benefits of treatment with root canal therapy.

The Causes and Symptoms of an Infected Tooth

How do you know if you have an infected tooth? Warning signs could include toothaches, pain when you bite down or chew, swelling near the tooth, or even a discharge from it. Headaches and jaw pain are common too. An infection means that harmful oral bacteria has come into contact with the inner pulp. The infection could be due to an untreated cavity or a serious injury to the tooth. Without treatment, the symptoms grow worse and the tooth could become lost or require extraction to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the tooth. When you experience one or more symptoms then let us know right away.

Root Canal Therapy

First, our team will administer a local numbing agent to keep you comfortable as we open the tooth to remove the tissues from within. We then clean the interior of the tooth and add a restorative material known as gutta percha. The next step in the root canal is to cap the tooth with a dental crown. In one -visit, we can bring instant relief and preserve your tooth. The crown is custom-made to look natural and blend with your smile, while also protecting the rest of the tooth structure and keeping your smile whole.

Taking Preventive Actions

You could then take steps to help prevent both infections and decay. For example, be sure you brush and floss daily to remove the leftover particles from your food and drinks, which bacteria would otherwise consume to create the plaque buildup that weakens outer enamel. Cutting back on sugary and starch-rich foods and drinks is helpful too, as this deprives harmful bacteria of a meal. Be sure to see our team for a checkup and cleaning every six months too. These visits help us remove all plaque and tartar to prevent cavities and infection, and to watch for the earliest warning signs, so we can address them before you experience common symptoms.

If you have any questions about treating infected teeth, then contact our team today. You can use your 2022 dental benefits before they expire at the end of December!

Talk To Your Cleveland, TX Dentist About Endodontic Treatment

We would like to help you protect and preserve your smile. For more information on addressing infected teeth, then contact your Cleveland, TX, dentist, Dr. Uhrenholdt, by calling (281) 592-1234.