Acute dental pain cannot be ignored. An abscessed tooth is not a situation that you can easily neglect. The discomfort usually drives people to the dental office. However, for those with a high threshold for pain, ignoring the problem is not going to make it go away. Without general dental care, an abscessed tooth can develop into more serious problems. If the infection should get into your blood stream or attack your sinus tissue, your body could sustain more than just the pain from a bad tooth.

When the nerve of a tooth becomes exposed or damaged it can cause great discomfort. At this point, options for treatment are narrowed to two; the tooth will either need to be extracted or have root canal therapy. Extraction may seem like a good choice, especially if the pain is severe. However, when at all possible, it is always best to save the natural tooth. Root canal therapy or RCT can provide an alternative to extraction.

Many people are under the impression that RCT is a procedure that causes pain. In fact, it is the infection of the nerve and the swelling around the abscess that is causing the discomfort. RCT actually helps eliminate the pain because the nerve of the tooth is removed.

In the case of a decayed tooth, the decay begins on the surface of the tooth and layer by layer it eats its way to the pulp where the nerve is located. The outer layer is the enamel; this is the hardest layer of the tooth. The next layer is the dentin. Decay moves through dentin quickly because it is softer than enamel. The last part of the tooth is the pulp. Once decay attacks the pulp, pain can become severe and an abscess can develop at the base of the root. The abscess causes swelling which in turn can make the discomfort worse.

When a tooth has been damaged or broken so that the nerve is exposed, it becomes highly sensitive to changes in temperature and pressure. If not treated immediately, the constant irritation will lead to more problems and more discomfort.

RCT removes the nerve from the tooth, drains the abscess, and sterilizes the canal. Once all debris has been cleaned from the root canal, it is sealed with a special filling material so that bacteria cannot enter. The remainder of the tooth is filled with an appropriate filling, and many times the tooth is crowned to provide extra protection.

If you suspect you may need a root canal, contact Southern Dental Group right away to schedule your consultation.