Root Canal

Our teeth consist of three major layers: the enamel, dentin, and central root canal cavity. The root canal houses the dental pulp, which comprises the blood vessels and nerves responsible for the nourishment and sensation of the tooth. When the oral bacteria gain entry to the root canal cavity, they can infect the pulp and cause a root canal infection.

What Causes Root Canal Infection?

In most cases, the tartar deposits accumulated on the teeth surfaces are the leading cause of root canal infection. Initially, they form cavities on the teeth, resulting from the erosion of the enamel and decay of the underlying dentin. If cavities are not disinfected and filled with suitable filling material, they can advance onto the dental pulp and cause an infection. Some of the other causes of root canal infection are damage to the teeth leading to cracks or chipping, severe gum disease, etc.

What are the Symptoms of Root Canal Infection?

• Decay of the dental pulp, which makes the tooth look severely discolored from the adjoining teeth.
• Release of pus and formation of an abscess near the infected tooth.
• Bleeding and redness of the gums near the tooth.
• Pain near the infected tooth and surrounding tissues, especially when you bite or chew food, brush the teeth, etc.
• Jawbone deterioration.
• Loosening of the tooth from its socket due to the shrunken jawbone.

How is the Condition Treated?

Root canal therapy is often regarded as the last resort to save a severely infected tooth. The dentist will diagnose your condition thoroughly and determine your candidacy for the procedure. If the severity of the infection is mild, it can be treated using medication and restoration. But, if the infection has encroached on the pulp to a large extent, we will have to perform the therapy.

We will clean and disinfect the tooth and administer local anesthesia before commencing. A small hole will be made in the tooth, and the infected pulp will be removed through it using dental files of varying sizes. We will also scrub the walls of the cavity and remove the microbial debris using a jet of water. We will place a small amount of antibiotic medication in the cavity before sealing it off using filling material to prevent reinfection. Since the tooth could weaken gradually due to the absence of nourishment, we will restore it using a ceramic dental crown to hold it intact and prevent damage.

We request you to schedule a consultation with our team of dental experts to get all your oral concerns addressed at the earliest. Please call us at (435) 713-0096 or reach out through online consultation, and we’ll be happy to help.