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About Root Canal And Its Infection – All Questions Answered

With the many advancements in dentistry, a root canal has become fairly safe procedure, intended to relieve your pain, rather than cause it. Still, many people worry about developing root canal infections. The truth is that root canals don’t have to be a traumatizing experience. In fact, with the latest techniques, the procedure of getting a root canal is equivalent to getting a filling.

Endodontists (root canal therapy specialists) are extremely careful of infections when it comes to procedures as crucial as root canals. Some infections are likely to be caused by an abscess, even before the root canal is performed; a few are post-root canal infections, as well.

In this post, we answer every possible question you may think of about your root canal procedure. This includes helping you lower the risk of a root canal infection, both before and after the procedure.

WHEN DOES A ROOT CANAL BECOME NECESSARY?

Root canals are the ultimate solution for a tooth so full of decay that it reaches the pulp (or ends the life of the tooth). As the pulp is made up of nerves and blood vessels, you experience the pain triggered by them. At times, the tooth may show discoloration (sometimes indicating a dead tooth), or you may have a sore – without an overwhelming amount of decay. For such instances, a root canal treatment is necessary. If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, it may be a sign to schedule a dentist appointment for a root canal.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT A PRE-ROOT CANAL INFECTION?

If you were dealing with an infection before your root canal treatment, your dentist will prescribe an antibiotic to treat it. If you have an active oral infection during root canal therapy in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, there is a chance that anesthesia won’t work; the infection won’t allow it to numb the area. So, it is important to communicate your problems and symptoms to your dentist and follow their recommendations for treating the infection first, and then the full tooth.

IS THE PROCESS PAINFUL?

Typically, you won't experience a lot of pain after root canal treatment. However, you may feel some tenderness in your jaw, since your mouth was open for a long time. But, if everything goes fine, there should be no feeling in that particular tooth since the pulp has been removed.

 WHAT ARE THE causes FOR POST-ROOT CANAL INFECTION?

It is possible to develop an infection after undergoing the procedure, but there is very little risk of this happening. Root canal infections can act up anywhere from a week to a decade after you've completed the treatment. Some of the reasons they occur are:

· There was a canal left unclean

· A crack was left unattended in the tooth’s root

· A defective restoration was used over the root canal, allowing room for bacteria to get in and reactivate the infection

· The breakdown of the sealing, enabling the bacteria to infect the inside of the tooth

HOW IS A SECONDARY ROOT CANAL INFECTION TREATED?

The treatment of an area that has already gone through a root canal is referred to as retreatment. Retreatment is no different than a typical root canal procedure, involving the use of antibiotics. If retreatment is not enough to deal with the problem, an apicoectomy is performed. This procedure relieves the infection by accessing the bony surroundings of the tooth, instead of treating it from the top of the tooth.

If you are experiencing any trouble with your treated tooth or anywhere else your mouth, see a dental health care professional ASAP. Get in touch with Brooklyn City Dental today and schedule an appointment right away.

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