Our Dental Blog

Could a Root Canal Prevent an Extraction?

August 19, 2021

When you have an infection in your smile, or an abscess, this could lead to major pain and also, the potential loss of your tooth. To prevent the tooth from being lost or removed, you need to treat the issue quickly. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist discusses how we do so with a root canal, and how this could prevent the need for an extraction.

damaged artificial teeth

The Risks of an Infected Tooth

What dangers will a dental infection cause? Well, an infection occurs when the living tissues that keep your tooth functioning and healthy contact harmful oral bacteria, usually through an untreated city or an injury to the tooth. Unless treated, an infection will grow worse until the tooth essentially dies. An extraction is then required to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the smile, such as nearby teeth to the jawbone. To prevent tooth loss and safeguard the rest of your smile, you will need to undergo treatment. Common warning signs include tooth sensitivity, toothaches, pain when biting down and chewing, swelling near the tooth, or even a discharge from it. If you experience one or more of these warning signs, let us know right away!

Treatment With a Root Canal

We will begin by examining your smile to assess the severity of your infected tooth, and choose the best treatment option. If a root canal is prescribed, then we will administer sedation or a numbing agent to ensure you feel calm and comfortable. Next, we will open the tooth so we can remove the tissue from inside. We then clean the interior of the tooth and the root canals. A special restorative filling is then added. Finally, we cover the tooth with a crown. The restoration will be custom-made to ensure a comfortable fit, and to offer a lifelike appearance too. We want you to be able to smile with confident following treatment!

Steps to Keep Teeth Safe

To help avoid future cavities or infections, you should be sure to care for your smile each and every day. Cut back on sugary foods and drinks, and brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes. You also need to floss every evening to remove what a toothbrush cannot remove. A checkup and cleaning is recommended every six months too. If you have any questions about endodontic treatment, then contact our team today to learn more.

Do You Have Questions About General Care?

When we address an infected or severely decayed tooth with endodontics, this helps save your smile. To learn more about how we treat an infected tooth, then schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018. We’re ready to help your family maintain good oral health.