Do you have sensitive teeth? Are your teeth sensitive to certain foods or beverages? You may have a dental infection. A bacterial dental infection can cause tooth pain, sensitivity, and decay. At West Ashley Family Dentistry, we treat patients with tooth decay in Charleston, SC. A root canal treatment is one of the best options for patients who have cavities as a result of a dental infection. Our dentists make sure that patients feel as comfortable as possible during treatment. In fact, a root canal reverses painful and uncomfortable symptoms such as tooth sensitivity. Here you can discover common signs of tooth decay as well as how we address dental infections in our office.
Signs of Tooth Decay
It is important for patients to let us know if there are changes in their oral health. Common signs of a dental infection may include:
- Holes or pits in teeth (Cavities)
- Tooth pain and toothaches
- Difficulty or pain when biting and chewing
- Brown, black, and white enamel stains
- Tooth sensitivity to temperature
Contact our dental office if you notice any of these symptoms. It is easy for patients to develop tooth decay if they do not brush and floss twice a day. Additionally, patients who do not regularly schedule dental visits may be more prone to dental infections.
Treating Tooth Decay
If you notice early symptoms of tooth decay, including tooth sensitivity or pain, call our office. Routine dental care and professional dental cleanings can help reverse these symptoms. Our dental hygienists use specialized tools to remove bacteria build-up from the teeth and gums. Once bacteria hardens, it is more difficult to remove. At regular dental visits, our hygienists can prevent the future buildup of this bacteria as well as remove plaque or calculus from the enamel.
A root canal is the best option for patients with dental cavities. Cavities are holes or pits in the enamel. They are an indicator that the dental infection has reached the inside of the tooth. Once the infection reaches the cells, blood vessels, and nerves within the tooth, we need to preserve the tooth structure with root canal treatment. To begin, we will numb the treated area. We will also provide dental sedation to ensure that patients do not feel any pain during treatment.
During the root canal procedure, we make a hole in the tooth to access the inner tooth chamber. Then, we remove the infected dental pulp from within the tooth. We clean out and disinfect the tooth. Then, we seal the tooth with a dental filling. Dental fillings are traditionally made of metal. However, these fillings can contain small amounts of mercury, which is harmful when ingested.
Request a Dental Appointment
If you are a new patient, call (843) 371-5480. Current patients may call (843) 571-7951. Feel free to schedule a dental consultation with the dentists at West Ashley Family Dentistry on our website. Please let our team know if you have further questions or concerns you would like to discuss at your next appointment.