Root Canal Treatment for Infected Teeth and Pulp

Proper root canal treatment can bring back your dental and general health. An endodontist can perform detailed checks to create a complete treatment plan. Removing the infection is the primary goal of the therapy. If you want to know more about how root canal treatment can help an infected tooth, here are the details.

It starts with a proper diagnosis

The endodontist will start the root canal by checking the tooth and its area. Tapping the tooth will see if the abscess is sensitive to pressure or even touch. A dental X-ray will determine the exact location of the abscess. It will also confirm if the infection has already spread to other parts of the mouth. The dentist can also order a CT scan if the infection has already traveled to the neck area. This imaging will see how far within the neck the infection has spread.

The treatment

Removing the dental infection is the main goal of root canal therapy. The diagnostic tests serve as maps to the infected tooth. The dentist can then form an effective treatment plan for the problem. The treatment will start by draining the infection.

The endodontist will first cut into the abscess at the side gum of the tooth. Washing the area with a saline solution will come next. Next, the dentist may place a small rubber drain in that area to continue draining the abscess as the swelling goes down. Then, the root canal will begin. The therapy will help maintain the dental structure.

First, the dentist will drill a tiny hole into the tooth. Cleaning out the infected pulp will come next. Disinfecting the cavity and drying it will follow. The dentist can then fill the pulp chamber and root canals with gutta-percha. This filling will also seal the tooth.

A curing light will harden the filling. Placing a custom-fit dental crown over the treated tooth will reinforce and hold the tooth together. It will also protect the tooth from future infection or injury. In addition, the crown is important in supporting the molars and covering discoloration in front teeth.

The patient will not need to take antibiotics if the infection is only in the tooth. However, most dentists prescribe antibiotics anyway to remove all traces of infection. Intense antibiotic therapy will remove the infection from neighboring teeth, gums, and jaw. Antibiotics can also help patients with weakened immunity. A dental extraction must follow if the tooth cannot be saved anymore.

After the treatment

There will be discomfort as the anesthesia wears off. However, the patient can manage it with over-the-counter pain relievers and prescribed antibiotics. Rinsing the mouth with a warm salt solution can also help ease the pain and swelling. A soft diet will give the tooth a break from chewing or biting for a while until healing is complete.

Follow-up visits allow the dentist to keep an eye on the treated tooth. Reporting any pain long after root canal treatment is important. This could be a sign of a persistent or new infection. By then, the dentist must schedule a second root canal or apicoectomy.