Carrollton, TX Root Canal
Do you have severe toothache and pain while biting or eating? Are your teeth sensitive to hot and cold? You may have an infected dental pulp. An infected pulp needs to be cleaned out, not only to relieve pain, but to prevent infection from spreading through the surrounding bone and soft tissue and causing more serious problems. Your Carrollton, TX dentist offers root canal or endodontic therapy to remove infected tissue, stop advancing decay and restore the tooth.
The Dental Pulp
The dental pulp is a small bundle of tissue, blood vessels and nerves in the center of each tooth. The pulp branches out and follows tiny, narrow canals that reach the tip of each tooth root. Pulp tissue is connected to the blood stream, nourishing the tooth and eliminating toxins.
The pulp is usually protected by the thick outer enamel and a secondary layer called dentin. But when fracture, trauma or a deep cavity allows bacteria to reach the inner tooth, the pulp becomes infected. As a result, the nerve may be squeezed by swollen tissues, causing severe, throbbing pain. Other times, a traumatized pulp may simply degenerate without infection and show no symptoms. The bone changes will only appear on an X-ray image. This defect is just waiting for the right bacteria traveling through the body to locate itself there and an active infection and swelling starts. This is why it’s important to see your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups.
Root Canal to the Rescue
Instead of extracting the tooth, Dr. Proctor will perform a root canal. Contrary to popular belief, the procedure is completely painless because it is done under local anesthetic. In fact, many patients will tell you that a root canal is no more uncomfortable than getting fillings.
The procedure is straight forward: Your dentist in Carrollton, TX will make a opening in the tooth to clean out the infected pulp. Dr. Proctor will then clean the space (including the root canals) and seal it off with a special filling material. Most teeth need to be crowned after a root canal since they usually had substantial decay and are weakened by removal of the pulp. Dr. Proctor will typically suggest the placement of a crown on a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy to give it support and protect it from further damage.
End pain today and save your teeth! Call 972-492-2866 or schedule an appointment online.
