| When
the root of a tooth becomes infected, a root
canal will be necessary to save the tooth. The
only alternative to a root canal is extraction
of the tooth.
The
symptoms of an infected tooth are:
- Sensitivity
to hot or cold foods and liquids.
- Swelling
and pain.
- Persistent
bad taste in the mouth
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|
Sometimes
an infected tooth won't even hurt. But, if left untreated
it could develop into a serious medical emergency.
Dental
Anatomy 101
When
someone smiles, we are seeing the outer layer of the
tooth which is called the enamel. There is another hard
layer beneath the enamel which is known as the dentin.
The small chamber at the center of the tooth is called
the pulp chamber. Pulp tissue is made up of nerves,
arteries and veins. The pulp chamber extends down the
root canal to the tip of the tooth.
The
teeth in the front of the mouth have one root canal,
while teeth in the back of the mouth may have two,
three or four root canals.
How do teeth become infected? Usually, infection develops
when a deep cavity allows germs to penetrate the root
canal. A severe blow to the tooth can also cause the
pulp tissue to die and infection can set in. Severe
gum disease can let infection enter the tooth at the
base of the root.
If
an infected tooth goes undetected for too long, an
abscess can form at the base of the root. The abscess
can actually cause deterioration and swelling in the
bone, and often is very painful.
Root
Canal Procedure
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