The innermost layer of the tooth, beneath the enamel and the dentin, is called the pulp. Pulpitis is the bacterial infection of the pulp. This usually occurs when a bacterial infection in the mouth has been left untreated for a long time. The bacteria slowly penetrates the tooth gradually, eventually getting into the pulp.
Some of this infection drips down to the root of the tooth as well. The treatment for pulpitis is known as a root canal treatment. Common questions regarding root canal treatments include:
Do root canals hurt?
Yes, they do! However, the treatment hurts much less than the pain caused due to the infection in the first place, as per an article published by Colgate.
What is the procedure for a root canal treatment?
At first, the dentist would take an X-Ray of the mouth to find out the spots in the pulp and root affected by the infection. Following this, a hole will be drilled all the way down the tooth, and the infected nerves and the debris will be taken out. A local anesthetic would be given to you before the drilling and cleaning process.
The cleaning would be done with the help of root canal files. The cavity would be rinsed and washed to put away residual debris. A sealant is then used to seal the cavity. On the next appointment, a dental filling will fill the hole drilled on the outside of the tooth.
Are there any alternatives to root canal treatment?
The most viable alternative to a root canal treatment is tooth extraction. However, unless you want to be toothless, you must also get an implant or crown, following tooth extraction! Tooth extraction is the only surgical solution to pulpitis since it takes the infected tooth out.
These infections occur so deep in the tooth that they are often undetected before the infection becomes severe enough to call for a root canal. However, the following are the 5 common signs of pulpitis that you must not ignore:
Now that you know the signs, do you believe that you have pulpitis? Perhaps you can prevent it by maintaining proper oral hygiene. However, if your tooth is already infected, no amount of brushing or flossing is ever going to cure it and you must seek an endodontist right away!