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Maintaining regular dental care is a vital component of oral health. When you visit our Carrollton, TX office every six months, we can check the teeth for early signs of decay or gum disease. When cavities are treated early and quickly, a simple filling will usually suffice. If cavities go untreated, they can work their way to the pulp chamber of the tooth and cause pain. When this happens, it’s important to be seen right away to see if there is infection that must be treated with root canal therapy.
There are many types of bacteria that naturally occur in the mouth. When you consume sugary foods or beverages, it feeds bacteria, which in turn create more acid in the mouth. If you don’t brush and floss often or well enough, this acid can erode the enamel and cause a cavity and lead to infection if not treated promptly.
When a tooth becomes infected, there is usually pain. For some, this pain comes and goes, and for others it remains persistent. Infection can also increase tooth sensitivity. If you come into our office with these symptoms, we will look for signs of infection.
Once a tooth becomes infected, root canal treatment is the only way to avoid extraction. During a root canal, the diseased pulp is removed from the tooth, but the structure remains intact. Removing the pulp eliminates the infection as well as the pain. Afterward the inside of the tooth is cleaned, filled, and sealed before being completed with a dental crown for strength.
Prevention is the best way to prevent root canals. By brushing and flossing daily as well as maintaining regular check-ups you can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. For more information, please call us today at (972) 388-3320.