When a tooth is treated for a dental infection and contamination or other complications causes reinfection, we can help. With retreatment, we can stop discomfort and save your tooth. At Root Canal Specialists of Baton Rouge, LA, our team can offer a retreatment solution to save your smile.
The Causes and Complications of an Infected Tooth
When a tooth is infected, this means harmful oral bacteria have made contact with the inner pulp, the nerve center of your tooth. Treatment with a root canal prevents this from growing more severe and causing a missing tooth. A tooth could become infected due to an untreated cavity or as a result of injury or teeth grinding. Symptoms include painful tooth sensitivity, toothaches, discomfort when chewing, pain in the face or jaw, or swelling or a discharge from the tooth. When these symptoms begin to occur in the months or even years following a root canal, there is a chance re-infection has occurred, and that you need retreatment.
The Retreatment Process
The infection could reoccur due to curved or narrow root canals that allowed bacteria or infected tissues to remain behind, or due to contamination when the crown was placed that completed the procedure. New trauma or tooth decay could also be a cause. Without treatment, the risk of losing your tooth increases with time, which is why you should see us for retreatment.
Our team will carefully examine the tooth with advanced digital x-rays, so we can pinpoint the position and assess the severity of the infection, allowing us to plan treatment in detail. We then open the tooth, removing the restoration so we can then remove the tissues from within and thoroughly clean the interior of the tooth and root canals. We then add new filling materials and cap the tooth with a custom crown. You then enjoy relief from discomfort and avoid the risk of losing the tooth and requiring a dental prosthetic!
Preventing Infected Teeth
We can also discuss ways to help prevent the onset of future cavities or infection. Be sure you brush and floss daily at home, and that you see your general dentist for checkups and cleanings every six months. Try to reduce your consumption of sugar and starch to avoid feeding harmful oral bacteria, and avoid tobacco products too. These actions can safeguard your smile and keep it comfortable and whole.
Learn More About Retreatment for Your Tooth
Our team wants to help you enjoy a comfortable smile and avoid painful complications. To find out more about our root canal procedures, then speak with our team at Root Canal Specialists of Baton Rouge at (225) 766-3061, at one of our locations in both Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, LA!