Don’t Lose Your Tooth to an Infection!
January 6, 2021
Dental infection could be a source of major discomfort, and over time, even the loss of the tooth. To avoid tooth loss, you need treatment. Using root canal therapy, your Kansas City, MO, dentist can remove infected tissues and restore your tooth to full function, health, and beauty.
The Causes of an Infection
What causes a tooth to develop a serious infection? A tooth is infected once harmful oral bacteria reach the inner pulp, your tooth’s nerve center. This is made possible for a number of reasons. First, poor oral hygiene and plaque buildup could lead to the demineralization of the enamel, eroding this protective layer and allowing a cavity to form. Without treatment, the cavity grows and eventually spreads to the pulp. An injury that cracks or chips a tooth could also be a problem too, exposing sensitive inner tissues to bacteria. Symptoms could include pain when you eat or bite down, sensitivity and toothaches that become more severe with time, swelling near the hurting tooth, or a foul discharge from the tooth itself.
The Risk of Tooth Loss
If you encounter one or more of the symptoms we discussed above, then please let us know right away. Treatment could prevent the loss of your tooth. If the infection grows very severe, the pulp could die, which causes your tooth to essentially die as well. Now, the infection could spread to other teeth to move into the jawbone! The tooth could fall out, or require extraction in a bid to prevent the spread of infection. Don’t lose your tooth, talk to our team about a root canal procedure to save your smile!
Preserving Your Smile With Root Canal Therapy
A root canal procedure means we can actually open and access the infected tissues, removing them completely from the tooth and the root canals. We first administer a local anesthetic and may also offer sedation for our patient with anxiety. We want to make sure you feel comfortable throughout the procedure! After we remove the inner tissues, we clean the interior of the tooth thoroughly before adding a special restorative material. The final step involves placing a crown. The crown is made from strong and lifelike materials, such as ceramic, so it blends with your smile while also protecting the interior from exposure to bacteria. If you have any questions about our endodontic treatment option, or about what you can do to avoid the onset of serious oral health complications, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Restorative Options?
We want to help you maintain a strong and attractive smile for years to come. To learn more about protecting your smile from discomfort and tooth loss, then schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.