How did my tooth become infected?

The two most common causes of infection in the pulp are deep cavities and fractures or broken teeth. Both expose the pulp to bacteria that are in saliva and are always present in the mouth. These bacteria can cause an infection that can kill the pulp. If this condition remains untreatable an abscess is created (pus that gathered down at the root tip and pass into the jaw bone). The abscess damages the bone surrounding the tooth, causing excruciating pain.

Symptoms vary

You may have realized that you have an infected tooth because it was sensitive to hot or cold, was swollen and painful, or had given you a bad taste in your mouth. On the other hand, you may have been completely unaware that you had an infection because you had experienced no symptoms at all.

Root canal therapy

When a tooth becomes infected, it is essential to remove the source of infection through root canal therapy. We understand that you may have anxiety about the procedure, but we want to assure you that it will be comfortable for you. Just have in mind that an infected tooth will not heal on its own and the consequences of the infection will only get worse and more painful as time passes.

The procedure

Root canal therapy often takes three or more appointments to complete.

First appointment
Because your comfort is important to us, we make sure that your mouth is thoroughly numb before we begin the root canal therapy. Next, we isolate the tooth from the rest of the mouth so the tooth remains dry and clean during the procedure.
To get to the infected pulp, we make a small opening through the top of the tooth down into the pulp chamber. We use a tiny instrument called a dental file to carefully remove the infected tissue and shape the root canals to the desirable sizes and lengths. Then we measure the length of the roots with a digital device and double check it with a digital x-ray. Additionally, we place the laser fiber inside the root and sterilize each canal. Finally, we place a temporary filling to protect the tooth between appointments.

Second appointment
After removing the temporary filling, the root canals are cleaned again, dried, sterilized with the laser and filled with a temporary material.

Third appointment
If there are no symptoms of pain, the root canals are sealed with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and a temporary filling is placed again until the final restoration of the tooth is placed (crown and a post).

Medications

It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal therapy, especially when chewing. To control this discomfort, take pain killers as recommended. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.