765-348-4111 Do you have a persistent toothache that is increasingly painful? Do you have a tooth that hurts when hot or cold food or drinks touch it, and even after it stops touching it? Does your tooth hurt when you bite down or chew food? If so, you may have an inflamed or infected tooth pulp which requires removal.
Your tooth may become infected or abscessed when the inside of your tooth, the pulp, experiences severe decay. While most people think root canals are a painful procedure, in actuality they relieve you of pain. In fact, a root canal is similar to receiving a dental filling and can be done in one or two visits.
Tooth Anatomy
Beneath tooth enamel lies a layer of hard material called dentin. Beneath the dentin lies your tooth pulp, which consists of nerves, connective tissue and blood vessels that nourish the growing tooth. When you are growing a tooth you need the pulp to supply blood and nourishment to the tooth to keep it healthy. However, once your permanent teeth have grown in, you no longer require the tooth pulp, as the surrounding tissues nourish the tooth. So when the pulp becomes infected, it can be safely removed without harming your smile.
Procedure
First, Dr. Raymond Maddox will remove the infected tooth pulp. Next, the area will be cleaned and disinfected to prepare for the placement of gutta-percha. This is a material which is similar to rubber consistency and will seal and protect the hole left behind after the pulp is cleaned out. The last step in the process will be placing a dental filling material over the gutta-percha. If the area is too big, or if too much of the tooth required removal, a crown may be placed instead of a filling.
At Maddox Family Dental Center, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Raymond Maddox if you are having any issues with your smile, or if you would simply like to schedule your next visit with our team. Just give us a call at 765-348-4111 today!