When your tooth becomes irritated or infected from cavities, trauma or decay, it often needs to have its natural cavity inside it (also called a root canal) cleaned and sealed off. This is a procedure we can do in our office to remove infection and save your tooth from having to be extracted.
All teeth in your mouth are held in place by a series of roots that extend into your jawbone. Depending on the type of tooth, each root may contain one or more nerves. Typically, front teeth have only one root while back teeth, such as molars and premolars, have two or more roots.
The roots of your teeth contain soft tissue called dental pulp that consists of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. Without this tissue, a tooth cannot survive.
Infections within a tooth’s root cause pain and can lead to swelling that spreads to the face, neck or head. Symptoms like these can indicate an abscess, which requires root canal therapy.
Tooth Pain That Doesn’t Go Away
If you experience a chronic toothache or a tooth that hurts after biting down on something, it may be time to consider a root canal to relieve your pain and prevent more damage from happening. During your consultation, we’ll determine if a root canal is the best treatment for you to get rid of your pain.
Tooth Swelling That Won’t Go Away
If swelling around a tooth doesn’t resolve after it has been cleaned, it could be a sign of an abscess or other serious infection. If left untreated, an abscess can spread to other parts of your body and cause bone loss to occur around the root.
A root canal will help remove the infected tissue and clean the inside of your tooth, removing any bacteria. Next, we will seal the inside of the tooth with an inert material such as gutta-percha.
Your dentist will then prepare your tooth so it can receive a filling or crown. A crown will protect the tooth from breaking or cracking, as well as provide a protective layer against further decay.
The success rate of root canal treatments is very high. About 90 to 95 percent of people who undergo a root canal procedure will have a healthy functional tooth that can last for years.
When your tooth is a candidate for a root canal, you can expect to have a procedure in our office that will last from a couple of hours up to two or three appointments. During the initial visit, your dentist will take x-rays of your tooth and discuss with you what to expect during the restorative process.
Once the treatment is complete, you will be able to smile, bite and chew again with ease. Most patients are able to resume normal activities immediately following the endodontic treatment.
If you have a tooth that is infected or damaged and you are experiencing pain, call us right away to schedule an appointment with the best Root Canal Specialist in Sarasota Florida.