When a tooth develops an infection, this could mean major discomfort and without treatment, the risk of losing the tooth entirely. Which is why endodontic treatment is needed to protect the stability of your smile. Our Oklahoma City, OK, dental practice can treat infection and preserve your tooth with a root canal.
The Warning Signs of Trouble
How do you know if you have an infected tooth? Well, dental infection occurs when decay or injury enables bacteria to make contact with the inner pulp. This is the nerve center of your tooth! An infection then develops that will grow in severity and eventually cause the loss of the tooth or allow the issue to reach other parts of your smile. When you develop painful toothaches and sensitivity, discomfort when you bite down and chew, swelling, soreness in the jaw and head, and a discharge from the tooth, then reach out to our team right away. You may need a root canal to save your tooth and the rest of your smile too!
Ensuring You’re Comfortable
We know you may feel nervous about the root canal, but most patients find the process comparable to receiving a simple dental filling. We will take steps to ensure you’re comfortable, even if you have dental anxiety. For example, we will administer a local anesthesia to the area being treated, and our team will also discuss dental sedation, which helps you reach a calm and relaxed state, with little to no memory of the procedure at all. Your visit will be a positive one, and we will also talk about ways to improve your oral hygiene and avoid future decay or infection.
Root Canal Therapy
Our team will plan the procedure with detailed digital x-rays, so we can assess the position and severity of the infection. Once you’re comfortable, we will open the tooth so we can access and remove the infected tissues from within. We then clean the interior of the tooth and add a special filling material. The last step is to cap the tooth with a crown, one custom-made for your smile to ensure proper bite balance and a lifelike appearance. This halts the decay and other complications, protecting your smile from discomfort and worsening oral health.
If you have any questions about how we treat dental infection with a root canal, then contact our team today. A visit now means we can address your concerns and discomfort, and help you start your 2024 with as healthier and more attractive smile!
Talk To Your Oklahoma City, OK Dentist About Restorative Dentistry
Our team wants to help you avoid tooth loss due to an untreated issue. If you would like to find out more about treating an infected tooth, then call our Oklahoma City, OK dental practice at (405) 752-0111.
