Eating delicious food should be fun, so when you start to avoid foods because chewing causes some pain, you know something is wrong. Normally, your teeth are protected by durable enamel. Although there are many nerve endings inside teeth, the enamel keeps them safe.
Then why do you have pain when you chew? This is a big sign you have an infected teeth. By calling our Plano, TX dental office today at 972-905-9266, you can make a new appointment to see if a root canal procedure can remove those infections. If you just leave things alone, the pain gets worse until you must have that tooth removed.
Understand How Infections Happen
If your teeth are protected by enamel, then how do they get infected in the first place? Often, it comes down to tooth decay.
Your mouth is home to some harmful bacteria. (Don’t worry, everybody has these!) What makes them harmful? They produce an acid that slowly eats away at enamel and even your gum tissue. When you have a cavity, it’s because those bacteria are decaying the enamel on a tooth.
Typically, you get a dentist like Dr. Barfield to gently remove the eroded enamel and seal it up with a filling (or a dental crown in some cases). But what happens if a cavity isn’t addressed? The hole in the enamel gets deeper until it pieces the enamel and reaches where the tooth has its blood vessels and nerve endings.
As the infection spreads inside, the nerve endings get triggered. That’s why you experience some pain either when you chew or at random times during the day. This can be a very bad thing! Not only will the infected teeth eventually need to be removed, the bacteria can get into your bloodstream and cause inflammation almost anywhere in your body.
Save Teeth With Root Canals
Some people worry about how a root canal treatment might feel, but most of these do not give you any serious pain. Here’s how this treatment will help your infected teeth.
- First, Dr. Barfield does a thorough exam, including digital X-rays, to find exactly where the infection lies.
- The tooth and surrounding area are numbed with local anesthetic.
- Using specialized training and tools, Dr. Barfield carefully makes a small hole in the tooth and gently removes the infection.
- Then he places a dental crown over the tooth so the small hole is sealed and an extra layer of protection is added.
This can often be done in a single visit, although you may need to come back for your dental crown. (It’s made to fit your tooth specifically.) And if you are still anxious, 1st In Smiles offers three types of sedation: inhaled, oral, and IV. These will relieve any worries so you can sit back, relax, and let Dr. Barfield save your teeth.
If you are experiencing any toothaches, even ones that appear and disappear, call 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX at 972-905-9266 or contact us online to request an appointment. Modern root canals are not just simple; they can save infected teeth and let you chew without discomfort again.
