Your dentist in Wilkes-Barre, PA might recommend that you undergo root canal treatment – essentially this is a dental procedure that removes the infected pulp of a tooth and replaces it with filling. This keeps the infection from spreading to neighboring teeth, and perhaps even from taking a toll on your overall health. A root canal treatment, also called an endodontic treatment, boasts a high success rate, and you can even expect your tooth’s function to be restored a short time after the procedure.
Symptoms of Pulp Damage
The infection that can damage your teeth’s pulp may cause inflammation, as well as a host of other symptoms. Some of these include toothaches, chewing or biting pains, facial swelling, the presence of pus around the affected tooth, extreme sensitivity to hot or cold foods, loosening of the tooth, and swelling of the gums. Should you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to call your dentist immediately for a checkup.
Possible Causes
According to an article in the Better Health Channel, there are many possible things that could lead to an infection and damage to your dental pulp, such as:
- Deep-seated and untreated dental decay
- Decay beneath a deep filling
- Trauma that damages a tooth
- Habitual tooth grinding (bruxism)
- Advanced gum disease.
What Could Happen
When bacteria attacks the pulp and you’re unable to keep the bacterial invasion at bay, the harmful microorganisms multiply and potentially spread to the rest of the mouth, wreaking all sorts of havoc. It could even affect the surrounding bone and could even lead to bone loss in your jaw. Moreover, the same article also says that:
“[T]he tooth may have to be removed, which interferes with the person’s ability to bite and chew. Tooth replacements such as dentures, bridges and dental implants may not be possible or may not be tolerated. They may be more costly and involve other issues that also need to be considered.”
How Root Canal Helps
As previously mentioned, the infected pulp is removed through root canal treatment, by which the tooth is then carefully cleaned out and disinfected. A filling is then placed in the space left over by the pulp, to make sure that it doesn’t get infected by bacteria again. This should help save your teeth from needing serious work in the future.
Ask your local dentist in Wilkes-Barre, PA for a consultation to identify if you are a good candidate for root canal. Established dental practices like Back Mountain Dental have efficient equipment and services to meet your dental health needs.
