Root Canal

Every single tooth in our mouth houses a central cavity called the root canal. It contains the dental pulp that comprises the blood vessels and nerves. They are responsible for providing nourishment to the tooth and also help with its sensation. The dental pulp can get infected from the microbes in the mouth, leading to a severe condition called root canal infection.

How does root canal infection develop?

The most common cause of a root canal infection is cavities. The microbes in the mouth can form tartar deposits on the teeth, which release acidic substances while feeding on the food debris. Over time, these acids erode the enamel and form cavities. If left untreated for a significant time, these cavities can advance to the deeper layers of the teeth and cause severe decay, thereby affecting the pulp. Other causes of root canal infection are broken or cracked teeth, gum diseases, etc.

What are the symptoms?

• The infected tooth would be extremely sensitive to cold and hot foods.
• Patients may experience extreme pain while biting and chewing food.
• The gums near the infected tooth may swell, discharge pus, and bleed.
• The tooth may turn dull due to the infected tissues inside it.
• In the more severe stages of the infection, the tooth may loosen from its socket due to jawbone deterioration.

How is the infection treated?

When you visit us for a consultation, the dentist will thoroughly diagnose the condition and understand its severity. The dentist will determine if the tooth can be treated with the help of dental cleaning and medication. If the condition is untreatable due to its severity, root canal therapy will be the last resort treatment method.

The dentist will clean the teeth and place a rubber dam on them to isolate a single tooth. A tiny hole will be made on the tooth using high-precision dental instruments to access the infected pulp. Using dental files of varying sizes, the dentist will meticulously remove them and wash the cavity using a jet of water. The walls of the cavity will also be scrubbed to remove the adhered microbes. Antibacterial medication will be placed in the tooth, and the hole will be sealed off with a suitable filling material.

After a few days of the procedure, the dentist will custom-fabricate a porcelain crown and bond it to the tooth. This prevents it from cracking or crumbling under severe forces.

You may schedule a consultation with our team of dental experts by calling us at (925) 566-8738 or reaching us through an online query. We’re always happy to help.