When you smile, you see only the top layer of your teeth. In fact, most people don't realize that your teeth are composed of three main layers: the enamel (the part you see), the dentin, and the root. When you brush your teeth, you aren't just protecting your enamel from cavities, but you are protecting the entire tooth. Sometimes when a cavity is so deep, an infection can enter into the pulp of the tooth which can lead to a variety of problems. Unlike a cavity that is easy to fill because it's on top, infected pulp can be a little harder to treat since it's at the bottom of the tooth where the root is. 

How Is Infected Pulp Treated? 

The most common way to treat infected pulp is through a root canal. During a root canal, your mouth will be numbed with a topical anesthetic, so you shouldn't feel a thing. Once everything is numb, your dentist will then drill what is called an access hole inside of the tooth. This hole is what will allow your dentist to enter into the pulp and clean it out. 

One of the things that surprises patients the most about a root canal is that so much is removed during the procedure. Not only is all of the bacteria removed, but all of the pulp and nerve tissue will be removed as well. Once everything is cleaned out, your dentist will then flush out the root to get rid of any leftover debris by using a water solution. 

Depending on the dentist that you are working with, they may then choose to seal off the interior and exterior of the tooth on the same day or they may apply a temporary crown over the top of the tooth to seal it off until your next appointment. 

To seal off the inside of your tooth, your dentist will use gutta-percha, which is a gum-like sealant that is placed into the root canal. Once that has been placed, your dentist will then either fill the top hole of the tooth with a filling or a dental crown denning on how damaged the tooth is. 

The best part about a root canal is that it preserves your tooth so that you don't have to have it pulled. Plus, the recovery isn't too long or intense. If you are suffering from extreme pain, irritation, or swelling, then contact your dentist today to make sure that you don't have an infection that requires a root canal.