cosmetic family dentistry the woodlands texas Dr. Bill Lockhart DDS

Root Canal Treatment

How did my tooth get infected?

The visible, exterior layer of a tooth is called the enamel. Beneath
the enamel is another hard layer, called the dentin. The dentin
surrounds a small chamber at the center of the tooth that contains
the pulp. Tooth pulp is a soft tissue made up of nerves, arteries and
veins. The pulp extends from the pulp chamber down through
narrow channels, called root canals, to the tips of the roots.

The two most common causes of infection in the pulp are deep
cavities and fractures or broken teeth. Both expose the pulp to
bacteria that live in the saliva. These bacteria, which are always
present in the mouth, can cause an infection that can kill the pulp.
Without treatment, the pus will eventually gather down at the root tip
and pass into the jaw bone causing an abscess (or pus pocket). The
abscess can then damage the bone that surrounds the tooth. The
resulting pressure inside the bone and ligaments surrounding the
tooth can cause excruciating pain, and left untreated, can even be
life threatening.

Symptoms vary

You may have realized you have an infected tooth because it was
sensitive to hot and cold, was swollen and painful, or was giving you
a bad taste in your mouth. On the other hand, you may have been
completely unaware that you even had an infection because you
experienced none of these symptoms.

Root Canal Therapy

An infected tooth will never heal on its own, and as it gets worse, it
will continue to be a source of infection that depletes your immune
system, which can affect your entire body. Years ago, your only
option would be for us to extract your tooth. But today, we can
remove the infection with Root Canal Therapy, and save your tooth.