Root Canals for Abscessed Tooth: Complete Guide

Jun 01, 2023

Root canal procedures have to be one of the most feared dental procedures next to dental extractions, of course! This is largely due to the fact that most people have a preset notion about root canals in Bellaire and how excruciatingly painful this procedure is.

However, the fact is that the root canal procedure is considerably painless because it is performed under anesthesia. This means that anyone undergoing this dental process will be comfortable and at ease during the duration of the treatment.

Endodontists near you primarily perform a root canal dental procedure to help save a natural tooth that has been infected but is still structurally sound to function. When a tooth is infected, it is termed as an abscessed tooth.

Several symptoms, such as a persistent toothache, severe tooth sensitivity, fever, swellings or protrusions on the gums, foul breath, and facial inflammation, indicate this dental condition.

If you notice these symptoms, you probably have an abscessed tooth and should seek medical treatment promptly because this dental condition can be life-threatening if left untreated.

An abscess occurs when a pus pocket forms within the infected tooth. A root canal drains the pus and bacteria from the affected tooth and removes the infection. Let’s take a comprehensive look into this dental process.

The Root Canal Procedure to Treat an Abscessed Tooth

It is important to keep in mind that this endodontic treatment is carried out to help drain, clean, repair, seal and restore an abscessed tooth that is still structurally sound enough to function.

Root canals near you will involve removing the damaged, diseased, infected tooth pulp section from the canal of the affected tooth. After which, the affected tooth is cleaned up, sealed, and restored to functionality.

Here is how the procedure is carried out:

Stage 1

Determine the Extent of the Infection

This is an important step in the procedure because it allows the endodontist to take a series of digital X-rays, which will help ascertain the extent of the infection and whether it has spread to the surrounding bone and tissues. Apart from this, the X-rays will help determine the structural integrity of the affected tooth and if it can withstand the dental procedure.

Stage 2

Removing the Infected Pulp Within the Abscessed Tooth

Once it has been ascertained that you can undergo this procedure, our endodontist will proceed to access and remove the infected pulp. This step will begin with you getting some local anesthesia administered. This is done to ensure that your procedure will be comfortable and pain-free.

The pulp section of the affected tooth will be accessed using drills and a set of special files. The pus, diseased and infected pulp, and bacteria are cleared out carefully from the canal to prevent reinfection.

Stage 3

The Root Canal is Cleaned

After the pus has been drained and all infected tissue has been removed, it’s time to clean and disinfect the canal. The canal region is scraped clean using files before being flashed clean with some water and sodium hypochlorite; this is guaranteed to leave the root canal clean and free of all infected tissue debris.

Stage 4

The Affected Tooth Is Sealed

After the tooth has been cleaned and disinfected, our dentist will put some medication within the canal and cover your tooth with a temporary filling for a week to ensure that the infection is dealt with and that no reinfection will occur.

The temporary filling helps keep out food debris and saliva from the cleaned-out canal giving the medication a chance to work. After one week has elapsed, and there are no signs of infection, our dentist will fill the cleaned-out root canal with a substance known as gutta-percha.

An adhesive is then applied to seal off the canal.

Stage 5

The Tooth Is Restored

This is the final step within this procedure, and it involves restoring the affected tooth to function like it would naturally. This step takes place a few weeks after the procedure. At this point, your customized crown, which will have been fabricated, is fitted over the affected tooth after removing the temporary adhesive.

The crown restores the tooth’s structural integrity and functionality, giving your natural tooth a chance to serve even longer.

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