At Dental Plus Mount Maunganui, a root canal procedure is a vital treatment designed to effectively treat infection and inflammation deep inside your tooth's pulp, ultimately saving it from needing to be taken out. During this essential dental procedure, our experienced Mount Maunganui dentists carefully remove the damaged or infected tissue, thoroughly clean and disinfect the intricate canals within the tooth, and then seal them to prevent any further issues. This process at Dental Plus effectively relieves tooth pain and preserves your natural tooth, allowing you to maintain its function and natural appearance. Thanks to modern dental techniques and our commitment to patient comfort, root canal therapy at Dental Plus is typically quick and comfortable, often feeling no different than having a standard filling. We are dedicated to providing gentle and effective root canal treatment in Mount Maunganui. Root canal therapy becomes necessary when bacteria, naturally found in your mouth, get into the dental pulp, leading to inflammation – a condition known as pulpitis. An inflamed pulp swells, increasing pressure inside the pulp chamber and causing a painful toothache. Sometimes, a direct knock to the mouth can also inflame the pulp, resulting in swelling and pain. At Dental Plus, we understand the urgency of this dental emergency. Bacteria can get into the innermost part of your tooth in a couple of ways. Firstly, if you have an untreated cavity, or if an existing dental filling has failed or crumbled away, bacteria can easily access the tooth's interior. Secondly, if your tooth is damaged or cracked, bacteria can soon penetrate it. Even a tiny crack can open slightly when you bite down, letting bacteria get inside. If you're experiencing a cracked tooth or a dental emergency in Mount Maunganui, contact Dental Plus for prompt care. While sometimes damage or infection can show no symptoms, common signs often indicate the need for a root canal at Dental Plus. These may include a persistent toothache that feels deep inside the tooth, often spreading to nearby teeth, your jaw, or facial muscles, and just won't go away. You might experience pain when biting or chewing, as your tooth could feel painful under pressure, signaling damaged or infected nerves. Tooth discolouration can also occur if an infection in the tooth pulp stops blood vessels from supplying blood, causing the tooth to become darker. Swollen or tender gums around the affected tooth are another indicator. A small spot or 'pimple' might develop on the gum nearest the tooth, caused by a build-up of pus. If this spot starts to ooze, the pus will likely smell very unpleasant, often accompanied by bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth. In more severe cases, your jaw or face could begin to swell due to pus build-up that can't drain away from the infected tooth. Finally, a loose tooth can indicate that the infection has spread to the jawbone around the tooth, damaging bone and other structures like periodontal ligaments. If you notice any of these root canal symptoms, don't hesitate to contact Dental Plus. It's vital to understand that if the pain from an infected tooth goes away, it doesn't mean the infection is gone; it often indicates the tooth nerve that was causing the pain has died. Unfortunately, the infection will not clear up on its own without professional dental care. An untreated infection can spread to other parts of your body, affecting your overall health. At Dental Plus, we emphasize the importance of addressing untreated dental infections promptly. You must seek emergency dental care in Mount Maunganui if you start to feel unwell, experience facial swelling, or develop a fever, as a severe infection can, on rare occasions, be life-threatening. Ultimately, leaving an infected tooth untreated significantly increases the risk of losing it completely, as a severely infected tooth may need to be removed to drain the infection. Our team at Dental Plus is here to help prevent tooth loss and protect your overall health. When you come to Dental Plus in Mount Maunganui with concerns, we will typically take a digital dental X-ray of the tooth to precisely see the infection and confirm that you need root canal treatment. Other diagnostic tests our skilled dentists might use include gently tapping on the tooth to see if you feel sensitive or uncomfortable, placing something hot or cold on the tooth to test for sensitivity, carefully assessing the gum and bone around your tooth, and asking you to bite down gently to see if the tooth feels painful under pressure. If you need treatment, please rest assured that at Dental Plus, it will not be painful. Our priority is your comfort, and the procedure shouldn't feel any worse than a filling, although root canal treatment is much more intricate and will take longer to complete. Early treatment at Dental Plus prevents more serious issues like dental abscesses and tooth loss, helping to maintain your overall oral health and function. Root canal treatment at Dental Plus is a trusted way to restore your smile and prevent the need for more extensive dental work. Contact Dental Plus today to schedule your consultation and learn more about our comprehensive dental services in Mount Maunganui.