Infected Root Canal  Changing Your View Of Root Canals

An infected root canal needs to be treated as soon as possible. In my 20+ years of doing rootcanals as an
endodontist (root canal specialist) I've been asked many times, "How long can I wait?" Tooth infections are best taken care of ASAP!

In fact you should always see your dentist as soon as you notice any pain, swelling, or anything out of the ordinary in your mouth.

Here are some other questions I've been frequently asked:

What is an infected root canal?

This is when your tooth's pulp tissue has become necrotic or died. The healthy pulp tissue is composed of nerve and blood vessels. It contains specialized cells that actually build your tooth when you are a child. As an
adult the tooth pulp has no vital function in maintaining your tooth.

What causes an infected root canal?

A tooth infection results after the pulp has become severely inflamed. This most common causes of rootcanals are:

• Tooth decay
• Dental fillings and crowns
• Trauma
• Cracked tooth

What are the symptoms of an infected root canal?

• Pain when biting. Rootcanals aren't done on all teeth that are sore with chewing. You may just have
  a small crack or a broken filling. Your dentist will be able to diagnose why your tooth hurts when you bite on it
• Swelling of the gum tissue beside the tissue. This could also be a gum abscess that will not be treated with a rootcanal.
• Tender to push on gum near the tip of the root. Women will sometimes notice this when placing make-up. I've seen many women who noticed this as the first sign of a rootcanal problem.

Hot and cold sensitivity are really not symptoms of an infected root canal. However temperature sensitivity that is severe and lingers indicates that the pulp is diseased and will probably require treatment.

How is an infected root canal treated?

There are only two options to treat a tooth infection.

(1)Endodontic therapy (rootcanal). This is required to save a tooth that is infected.

(2) Tooth extraction. Some people choose to have their tooth removed but it is always preferable to save a tooth if at all possible.

Do rootcanals always work in treating an infected root canal?

Root canals have a success rate of 95%. That makes it a very effective and predictable procedure.

The words root canal evoke a great deal of emotion. Some people are so nervous they decide not to save their tooth.

I wrote The Relaxed Root Canal in order to help the fearful dental patient have a relaxed root canal experience.

In this book I answer over 80 questions about rootcanals and provide helpful tips on how to relax for your root canal appointment.

In Chapter 10 I tell you theone home remedy to not try for an infected root canal. I've seen many people the day after they tried it. This home remedy always makes pain and swelling worse.

In Chapter 5 I give you THE ONE QUESTION YOU SHOULD  ASK YOUR DENTIST BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR ROOT CANAL.

You simply must get a YES answer to this question. I'll tell you what to do if you get a NO answer!

For more information on The Relaxed Root Canal PLEASE CLICK HERE.

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