Alleviate Infection and Tooth Pain with a Root Canal
An infected tooth can wreak havoc on your oral health. In addition to causing pain, infection can spread to adjacent teeth if left untreated. If you are suffering from a dental infection, a root canal procedure at the Center for Dental Excellence in Monroeville, PA, can relieve pain and save your tooth from extraction. Dr. Edward Narcisi uses advanced techniques to ensure your treatment is as comfortable and efficient as possible.
When Is Root Canal Therapy Necessary?
Any time the pulp or internal tissue of a tooth becomes infected or inflamed, there are usually two options: root canal therapy or extraction. Because a root canal essentially removes the source of pain, it is effective for treating many of these infections, which can be caused by deep decay or trauma.
Although a tooth infection is not always evident, it can present a number of symptom, including:
- Extreme tooth pain
- Prolonged temperature sensitivity
- Tenderness when chewing
- Tooth discoloration
- Facial swelling
- Tenderness in the jaw or lymph nodes
- Drainage of pus
If you notice any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with your dentist immediately. When dental infections are diagnosed early, a root canal procedure can prevent the problem from spreading to surrounding structures. In many cases, it can prevent tooth loss and allow patients to avoid the need for restorative treatments such as dental implants.
Treatment is typically separated into several phases: removal of the infected tissue, filling up of the canal with gutta percha, and sealing the tooth off from future infection.
Benefits of Root Canal Therapy
Although the procedure has a reputation for being painful, root canal therapy is virtually painless and generally causes no more discomfort than a standard dental filling. In fact, by its very nature, root canal therapy removes the source of the pain.
When dental infections are diagnosed early, a root canal procedure can prevent the problem from spreading to surrounding structures.
Perhaps the most significant advantage this treatment offers is prevention of tooth extraction. Furthermore, with proper care, a root canal-treated tooth can last a lifetime.
Root Canal Treatment Process
Generally, root canal therapy is broken down into distinct stages:
- Anesthesia: A member of our team will administer local anesthesia to numb the tooth and the surrounding gums so that you are comfortable throughout your treatment.
- Access: Using specialized dental instruments, the doctor will create a tiny access hole in the top of the tooth.
- Cleaning: Dr. Narcisi will remove all infected tissue from the inside of the tooth, including the pulp and nerves.
- Disinfecting: Once the infected tissues have been removed, the doctor will disinfect the internal surfaces of the tooth to keep residual bacteria from spreading.
- Filling: Dr. Narcisi will then fill the root canals with a flexible, rubbery dental material called gutta percha and seal off the tooth with a temporary dental filling.
- Final Restoration: Once you have healed for a week or two, you can return to our office for the placement of a permanent crown. He will first check how the restoration fits into your bite before making any necessary final adjustments and attaching the crown.
In most cases, we can complete a full root canal treatment in two appointments spread out over several weeks.
Protect Your Teeth
If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of a tooth infection, schedule a consultation with Dr. Narcisi right away. To reach a team member, you can contact us online or call our office at (412) 373-9447.
