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A root canal is a procedure that removes infected pulp from a tooth. The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth. It contains blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues. When the pulp becomes infected, it causes pain, sensitivity, and swelling. A root canal removes the infection, so the tooth can be restored. A patient may need this procedure when decay reaches the inner tooth, infects the pulp and the nerve of the tooth, as well as causes an infection.

If the infection isn’t treated, it can cause an abscess to form at the root tip of the jawbone, which can lead to more pain and illness. That’s why it’s important to have an infected tooth treated by a professional as soon as possible.

What Causes Tooth Decay and Infection?

Tooth decay happens when bad bacteria eat away at your tooth enamel, causing holes to form. These holes can get further and further into the tooth and cause pain when you eat or drink hot or cold foods. And without treatment, they can lead to bigger problems like an abscessed tooth or bone loss.

Bacteria are the primary cause of infected teeth. They can cause cavities by weakening your enamel, which will lead to more serious problems as time goes on. Everyone’s mouth is full of bacteria — you can’t really avoid it! But the acid they produce from feeding off of sugars weakens your enamel and causes damage to your teeth and your gums. This is why it’s so important to brush twice a day and floss once a day. If you don’t, you’re at risk for all kinds of serious oral health problems.

An infected tooth is a dental emergency. If your tooth has these symptoms, call our office right away so we can get you into our office for treatment as soon as possible.

• Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Pain when chewing
• Dull ache that doesn’t go away
• Abscess formation in the jaw
• Swollen gums that bleed easily
• Pus around the tooth, especially when you bite down
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever
• Constant sore throat
• Bad breath that won’t go away with brushing or flossing
• A discolored tooth
• Tooth discoloration that affects more than one tooth
• Dark spots on your teeth, often near the gum line
• Cracks in your molars
• Loose teeth
• Sensitive teeth
• Failing fillings or other restorations
• Gums that are redder than usual, like with a cold sore, or fever

Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Root canal treatment is usually no more painful than getting a cavity filled. Some patients experience mild discomfort, which typically only lasts a day or two before subsiding. Since your dentist will use anesthesia during the procedure, you won’t feel any pain at all!

Your dentist may recommend taking over-the-counter medications for relief from pain after the procedure. However, if the pain is severe or does not go away after a few days, you should call the dentist’s office right away.

If you’re interested to learn more, call our dentist today to schedule a consultation. You can call us at (209) 554-1700 or visit our clinic located at 1317 Oakdale Rd Suite 310, Modesto, California 95355.