Preserving Root-Infected Teeth At Lighthouse Dental, Ipswich

14 / 06 / 2017

Preserving Root-Infected Teeth At Lighthouse Dental, Ipswich

How A Root Canal Procedure Can Save An Infected Tooth From Extraction

Whilst there are a number of ways of restoring a tooth that has suffered from external damage, such as decay or breakages, there is only one treatment that is available where the inner part of a tooth has become infected. The root canal treatment has earned an undeserved reputation for discomfort over the years, but is actually an excellent way to preserve an infected tooth.
At the Lighthouse Dental Practice in Ipswich, you can be sure that our dentists will take good care of you, and, with the help of a local anaesthetic, you should not experience any significant discomfort throughout the procedure.

Causes of infection

In most instances, an infection of the root canals of the tooth will have started through damage being caused to the external enamel. Even a small crack in the enamel of your teeth can allow bacteria to enter the root canals. As this is where the nerves of the tooth are located, this can cause very severe pain, particularly where the infection has progressed.AbscessesIt is also possible that an abscess may form when a tooth becomes infected in this way, and it is widely thought that this may be where the idea of a root canal procedure is painful originates. There is little doubt that, if the procedure took place with an abscess present, it could be extremely painful indeed.

Like any other modern dental practice in Ipswich, we always start a root canal procedure by using x-rays to check for any signs of an abscess and, should any be found, your treatment will be delayed until the abscess has been treated.

Root canal procedure

To perform a root canal procedure, you will first be given a local anaesthetic to minimise any discomfort you might feel. Once this has taken effect, the dentist will remove a section of the upper part of the tooth so that the root canals can be accessed. The infected pulp within the canals will then be removed and the now hollow tooth thoroughly cleaned to remove any remaining bacteria. A special type of filling, known as gutta percha, is then inserted into the canals, and finally, a dental crown will be attached to the tooth both to give it a natural appearance and to strengthen the treated tooth.

Precautions

While a root canal restored tooth offers a high level of functionality, care should be taken not to use it to bite down too hard on objects; however, it should be fine for general use. Also, please remember to continue to clean and floss around the tooth in order to prevent problems such as gum disease.

For information about root canal treatment or any other dental procedure, please contact the Lighthouse Dental Practice on 01473 257379.

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If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team about any of the issues in this article please visit our contact page or call us on 01473 257379.