When a tooth is infected or abscessed, you could suffer from major discomfort, which could even impact how you eat! To bring relief and prevent the loss of your tooth, you may need endodontic treatment. In today’s blog, your Brighton, MA, dentists explain when you need a root canal, so you can recognize the warning signs of dental infection.
The Factors Behind Dental Infection
An infection or abscess means that harmful oral bacteria make contact with the inner pulp, the group of nerve tissues that keeps your tooth functional and healthy. This could happen when a tooth is cracked or broken, or more likely due to an untreated cavity that spreads through the tooth. Without treatment, the tooth could require extraction to prevent a spread to surrounding teeth, or could fall out. The resulting loss of your teeth could lead to further complications for the health, comfort, and beauty of your smile.
Warning Signs to Watch For
When should you seek treatment for an infection? If you attend checkups every six months, then we will likely address the issue early in the decay phase, often before you experience discomfort. Without these visits, you may not know you need treatment until the issue reaches the later stages. Symptoms of an infected tooth include toothaches and tooth sensitivity, pain when you bite down and chew, headaches, jaw pain, swelling near the tooth, or a discharge from it. If you experience one or more of these potential warning signs, please give us a call right away to schedule a visit!
Treatment with Endodontics
If you have symptoms and we find the presence of an infection, then we will move forward with root canal treatment. The digital images we take as part of the diagnostic process will let us plan the treatment carefully. We then administer a numbing agent to ensure you feel comfortable. We open the tooth to gain access to the infected tissues, which we remove from the tooth. A medicated filling is added to the interior of the tooth, and the tooth is then capped with a dental crown. The crown is designed to look natural and fit comfortably, so you enjoy a lifelike appearance and a healthy, comfortable tooth.
If you have any questions about how we treat an infected tooth, or if you would like to schedule a visit, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Root Canal Therapy?
Treatment could help prevent tooth decay from becoming an infection, or from leading to a lost tooth. To learn more about how to treat an infected or abscessed tooth, then schedule a consultation by calling Brighton Family Dental Group in Brighton, MA, today at (617) 562-5210. We proudly welcome patients from Brookline, Newton, and all surrounding communities.
