A root canal is necessary when the pulp of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected (pulpitis). If the pulp infection is left untreated, it can cause severe pain /or lead to an abscess, and potentially cause serious whole-body repercussions.
At Mississippi Dental Arts, Dr. Trace Favre strives to change what you think about this oft-misunderstood endodontic treatment with comfortable root canal therapy in Pass Christian, MS, coupled with sedation options and a kindhearted chairside manner!
When the pulp inside your tooth root becomes infected, the infected pulp and bacteria must be removed to save your tooth and protect your oral and systemic health. Understanding the steps involved in dental infection treatment at Mississippi Dental Arts enables you to schedule tooth pain relief with peace of mind.
Diagnosis requires a combination of a clinical visual exam, symptom history, digital X-rays, and specialized pulp vitality tests. Because the pulp is sealed within the hard structure of your tooth, our root canal dentist must evaluate how the nerve reacts to various stimuli to determine whether the tissue is inflamed, dying, or completely dead.
After anesthesia takes effect, a small hole is drilled in your tooth crown to gain access to the pulp chamber. Then, Dr. Favre carefully cleans out all the bacteria and infected pulp and tissues. The end is sealed with a rubber-like, biocompatible material called gutta-percha.
Afterward, a tooth treated with a root canal usually requires restoration with a crown or filling to protect it and restore normal function. This is typically done 1–3 weeks later, although you won’t have to wait for the dental lab to create the crown because we offer ceramic dental crowns milled on site.
In addition to local anesthesia to numb the area, we offer various sedation options. Root canals in Pass Christian, MS, aren’t painful even without sedation; however, you may experience slight pressure as we complete the procedure.
Root canal treatment is a very common procedure, with about 15 million performed each year in the United States to save damaged or infected teeth. When performed properly and followed by a permanent restoration, standard root canals have an estimated success rate of 95% and can last for many years.
A root canal may be considered emergency dental care if you have severe tooth pain, swelling, an abscess, or a traumatic dental injury that threatens the tooth. Prompt treatment relieves pain, stops the spread of infection, and increases the chances of saving the tooth.
A root canal can fail if bacteria re-enter the tooth through a crack, delayed crown placement, new decay, or complex root canal anatomy that was difficult to fully clean. In many cases, retreatment or an apicoectomy can successfully resolve the problem and preserve the tooth.
An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure performed through a small incision in the gums. The tip of the tooth root and any infected tissue are removed, and the root end is sealed to prevent reinfection. It is typically recommended when a previous root canal hasn’t fully healed and conventional retreatment is unlikely to be successful.
No, there is no credible scientific evidence that modern root canal treatment causes systemic illnesses. In fact, root canal therapy removes infection from inside the tooth, helping to protect both your oral and general health.
Although the pain may disappear and you think the infection has healed, this signals that the nerves inside your tooth have died. If you forgo treatment, a serious bacterial infection can spread to your jaw, blood, and the rest of your body.
The best way to prevent a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene, avoid hard foods that can crack teeth, and protect your teeth when playing sports.
