Trauma or decay can lead to a tooth infection, which may be identified by a painful or throbbing toothache. The pain often prompts patients to seek the gentle care of Drs. Lan Vo and Sean Breckley at 32 Dental in Kennesaw, GA. They are happy to explain the cause of tooth infections as well as treatment available.

Understanding the root cause of a tooth infection

The pulp chamber of the tooth contains nerves, blood vessels, and other tissues. When the dental pulp dies, the body reacts with an inflammatory response. This can result in a painful toothache. Patients in Marietta and beyond often characterize the affected tooth as a “dying tooth.” They may express their concerns, discuss their symptoms, and then ask, “Can you provide a solution?” Our team will gladly reply, “Yes.”

Learning about the ideal solution to relieve pain

Typically, the ideal solution for a tooth infection is a root canal. Although root canals have developed a bad reputation over the years for being painful, the truth is they can relieve pain caused from toothaches. Thanks to advances in dentistry, sedation can provide the additional comfort needed during the procedure to ensure it is a comfortable and painless experience. We can provide sedatives such as nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” to ease anxiety. This sedative provides a moderate level of relaxation; however, patients are conscious and alert throughout the procedure. Nitrous oxide wears off quickly, allowing patients to drive home after the procedure.

As patients learn about our techniques to ensure comfortable treatments, they often want to learn more about root canals. We can explain. For the procedure, we will numb the tooth and surrounding areas, and when needed, administer another sedative. Then, we install a rubber dam to isolate the tooth. After accessing the pulp chamber, we will clean and disinfect the canal followed by placing a filling material to seal the canal and protect it from becoming infected. For additional tooth protection, we will place a porcelain crown on top of the tooth.

One of the primary benefits of root canal therapy is we can often save the natural tooth. Do you want to learn more about the benefits of root canals? We would love to highlight them during a consultation appointment. Call (770) 423-1132 to schedule yours today.