Endodontic therapy, otherwise known as root canal therapy, is a procedure that dentists recommend to patients who are dealing with progressive tooth decay. On average, this treatment boasts a high success rate, landing around 95%.
However, it’s crucial to remember that nothing is perfect, and, in rare instances, side effects, like infections, can occur after your tooth is treated.
For more information about root canals in Edmonton, feel free to reach out to our local dental practice. Our team is here to assist you in any way that we can.
Root Canals Explained
If tooth decay or infection is not treated in a timely fashion, not only can it damage your enamel and leave holes in your tooth, but it can make its way down to your pulp. This delicate, fleshy sac contains blood vessels and nerves; when it’s infected, it will lead to oversensitivity when you eat hot and cold items and severe pain when you brush and move your jaw.
To save as much of your tooth as possible, your dentist will probably recommend receiving a root canal at a dental clinic near you. This procedure entails drilling down into your tooth, scraping out all the decay, then sealing the space left behind by installing a customized dental crown.
Talk to your dentist today if you have further questions about this procedure.
Root Canal Infections
Symptoms
Root canal therapy is a very reliable method of restorative dentistry. With that said, issues can arise every so often like your treated tooth becoming re-infected. If you’re unsure as to whether your newly treated tooth is damaged, here are some signs to keep an eye out for:
- Facial swelling.
- Pimples have formed around the tooth.
- Persistent bad breath.
- Pus.
- An abscess has appeared. (This is a pus-filled sac).
- Your tooth has darkened.
Causes
Multiple factors can contribute to the re-infection of a tooth, and they include:
- An unseen or unaddressed fracture or fissure.
- The dental crown isn’t installed properly.
- A new cavity has formed in or around the tooth.
- The material used to seal your tooth has eroded.
Treatment
Regardless of how it manifests, root canal infections are serious. Sometimes, your smile can be repaired with a second root canal, also called endodontic retreatment. If such a strategy isn’t possible, you can undergo other forms of treatment like an apicoectomy, which involves severing the tip of your root, or a complete tooth extraction.
Infections can spread not just throughout your oral cavity, but to other areas of your body as well. When they seep into your bloodstream, it’s a lot more difficult to contain. So, if you feel like something is off or you’re experiencing lasting pain, do the wise thing and call a dentist in Edmonton.
They’ll advise you to come in for a dental exam. Your mouth will be physically assessed, and x-rays will be taken after. These measures allow your dentist to construct a detailed picture of your current situation. Before you go, they will let you know just what the problem is and how you can go about addressing it.
Preventing Root Canal Infections
Oral infections are easily preventable so long as we dutifully take the time to care for our teeth. Here are some easy, but impactful practices you can engage in to stop any infections from developing:
- Brush your teeth! Though it’s recommended you do so at least twice a day, it’s better if you brush and floss after all three meals.
- Rinse with mouthwash – Antiseptic mouthwash is especially great.
- Take medication to dispel any pain – Advil and Tylenol are popular ones.
- Attend dental cleanings.
- Visit your dentist! If something is wrong, don’t hesitate! Dentists are here to help you.
At Oliver Family Dental, we provide root canal treatment near you. You don’t deserve to deal with severe tooth pain, and that’s why our amazing team is here to help you. Your oral health matters to us, and we will walk alongside you every step of the way to make sure that you obtain the result that you want and deserve.
Give us a call or fill out the online form on our website to book a consultation with one of our dentists today!
