Inside of every tooth is pulp that contains nerve tissue and blood vessels. When this pulp becomes infected, Dr. Desai of Glendora Family Dentistry needs to complete a root canal in order to save the tooth. Infection can happen for a variety of reasons, including trauma to the face, severe tooth decay, an abscessed tooth, or another dental disease. It’s important to pay attention to any new or unusual symptoms that may indicate you have an oral infection. Some of the most common ones include:
- Intense, throbbing pain that does not respond to over-the counter medication or other home remedies
- Unexplained swelling of the neck or face
- Halitosis (bad breath) despite brushing your teeth regularly and using mouthwash
- Darkening of the tooth
- A pus-filled sac on the gums near the affected tooth
- Certain activities increase the pain, such as drinking something hot or cold or changing body positions
Even when patients experience several of these symptoms, they sometimes feel reluctant to report them to Dr. Desai because they are afraid of what they have heard about root canals. Their minds are put at ease when he provides an answer to the question “What is root canal treatment?”
Undergoing a Root Canal
When you have a root canal performed at Glendora Family Dentistry, we do everything possible to ensure that you are comfortable. Dr. Desai starts the procedure by giving you a shot of anesthetic to numb the tooth and gum tissues. Once that has taken effect, he scrapes away the pulp that has developed an infection. After cleaning both the inside and outside of the tooth, he covers it with a sealant to protect it from further damage. The sealant preserves your ability to chew with the treated tooth.
When you don’t treat an infected tooth, it can cause significant problems with your oral health and the problems may eventually spread to other parts of your body. We urge you to contact Glendora Family Dentistry at any hour if you have any of the above symptoms or something just doesn’t feel right. It’s better to err on the side of caution when it comes to preserving your tooth.
