When bacteria get inside your teeth, an infection shortly follows. An infection can cause severe pain and can be very dangerous for your oral, and overall, health. Once inside the tooth, bacteria can find their way into the bloodstream. There, they travel all throughout the body, triggering inflammatory responses that can contribute to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. At Carolina Mountain Endodontics we can help to remove the infection from your teeth, restoring your oral health, with root canal therapy.Symptoms of an Infection in Your Tooth
An infection inside your tooth can present a variety of different symptoms:
| • | A severe toothache. |
| • | Swelling of the gums around the affected tooth. |
| • | Swelling of the face near the affected tooth. |
| • | Lingering pain and sensitivity. |
| • | You may lose bone mass in your jaw. |
| • | A dental abscess. This is probably the most obvious sign of an infection in your tooth. A dental abscess forms when bacteria spill out from the root of the tooth. In an attempt to contain the bacteria, and to prevent their spread, a sac (the abscess) forms. The longer an infection goes untreated, the larger it can grow. It can even rupture, which can lead to the bacteria entering the bloodstream. |
Root Canal Therapy
Your teeth consist of two layers. The outer layer, the enamel, is hard and mineralized. The inner layer contains hollow canals that lead to the root of the tooth. It also houses the pulp, which contains blood vessels and nerves. The enamel is designed to protect the interior of the teeth. However, if the enamel is damaged, bacteria can enter into the affected tooth. Bacteria can also enter a tooth as the result of gum disease. Once inside, the bacteria begin to multiply and irritate the pulp. As a result, the pulp becomes inflamed, and you start to experience pain. Once an infection is inside the tooth, the only way to remove it is with root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy is a treatment that is performed to remove an infection from the interior of your tooth, allowing you to avoid the need for a tooth extraction. To remove the infection, the pulp is removed, and the entire inside of the tooth is disinfected. To do this effectively, the hollow canals inside the tooth, where bacteria can easily hide, need to be shaped, making them easier to clean. Root canal therapy ends with a crown on the treated tooth. The purpose of the crown is to provide the tooth with strength and prevent a new infection from occurring.
Learn more Root Canal FAQs.
How is Root Canal Therapy Done?
Before treating an infection, we first perform a thorough oral exam. The exam is designed to diagnose the infection or any other issue that is plaguing your mouth. We visually inspect the inside of your mouth, checking your teeth and gums for signs of damage, decay, and infection. We also take x-rays, which will provide us with insight as to what is happening below the gumline. X-rays can show us damage below the gumline as well as the presence of an abscess. Once we have diagnosed an infection, then we can begin root canal therapy. We start by giving you a local anesthetic. If necessary, sedation may also be used. We then drill a small hole in the top of the tooth. Using small, specialized tools we remove the pulp of the tooth. We then shape the canals and clean and disinfect the interior. The space is filled with a material called gutta percha. Finally, the tooth is capped with a dental crown and you will receive aftercare instructions. If you suspect an infection inside of your tooth, don’t ignore the symptoms.
Learn more about root canal safety.
There are many myths about root canal therapy. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Carolina Mountain Endodontics at (828) 627-1999 today.