The most common reasons for a pulp infection are tooth decay that reaches the pulp, trauma or injury to the tooth and the development of an infection or abscess inside the tooth or at the root tip.
Listed below are some of the symptoms of a root canal infection:
Root canal treatment is used to remove the infection and save the tooth from extraction. Contrary to popular belief, the pain of a root canal treatment is far lesser than the pain caused by the infection itself. The treatment involves numbing the tooth and then isolating it using a rubber dam to keep it dry. Then a hole is made in the tooth to access the pulp chamber. The infected nerve tissues are removed using tiny dental instruments and the space is sealed using a dental material known as gutta percha. A temporary filling material or crown is placed on the tooth to protect it. At your next appointment, the temporary restoration is removed and a permanent crown is placed on the tooth.