Relief for an Infected Tooth in Newton Centre
A tooth that aches every time you sip coffee, or one that pulses on its own late at night, is often telling you the nerve inside is inflamed or infected. Antibiotics and pain relievers may take the edge off for a while. They don't fix the source.
Root canal therapy does. It has a reputation that's worse than the reality for most patients, and the aim is simple: remove the damaged tissue, seal the tooth, and let you keep chewing on your own tooth instead of a replacement.
What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Under the enamel and dentin, every tooth has a soft core called the pulp. It holds nerves and blood vessels and runs down through thin channels in the roots, which are the root canals.
Deep decay, a crack or a hard knock can let bacteria into the pulp. Once that happens, the tissue can't heal by itself. During root canal therapy, Dr. Kaceli removes the pulp, cleans and shapes the canals, and fills and seals them so bacteria can't get back in.
Symptoms That Can Point to a Root Canal
- Tooth pain that lasts or keeps returning
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the food or drink is gone
- Swollen or tender gums near the painful tooth
- A tooth that has turned darker than the others
Some infected teeth cause no symptoms at all and only show up on X-rays during a routine exam in Newton. That's one more reason regular checkups matter.
Your Root Canal Appointment
- NumbingThe tooth and surrounding gum are numbed with local anesthetic. If dental work makes you anxious, let us know and comfort options can be discussed.
- AccessA small opening is made in the top of the tooth to reach the pulp chamber.
- Removing the pulpThe infected or inflamed tissue is taken out of the chamber and canals.
- Cleaning and shapingEach canal is cleaned and shaped so it can be filled properly.
- SealingThe canals are filled and the opening is sealed.
The appointment usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. Some teeth are finished in one visit, and others need a second, especially molars with several canals or teeth with a lot of infection.
Retreatment of a Previously Treated Tooth
Most root-canal-treated teeth do well for many years. Now and then, a tooth that was treated in the past starts to hurt again. Bacteria may have found their way back in, a new crack may have formed, or the tooth may have a canal that was hard to reach the first time.
Retreatment means reopening the tooth, removing the old filling material, cleaning and disinfecting the canals again, and resealing them. It's often a way to keep a tooth that might otherwise need to come out. Dr. Kaceli will look at your X-rays and tell you whether retreatment, a tooth extraction or another approach gives you the best result.
After Your Root Canal
Mild soreness for a few days is common as the area settles. Avoid hard foods on that side until the tooth is fully restored.
A tooth that has had a root canal can be more brittle, especially a back tooth that takes a lot of chewing force. Dr. Kaceli will tell you whether a dental crown is recommended to protect it.
Why Choose Kaceli Dental Studio in Newton?
Tooth pain is hard to ignore, and our Newton Centre office offers same-day emergency visits so you're not left waiting days to find out what's wrong.
Dr. Kaceli's priority is keeping your natural tooth whenever that's realistic. She explains what she sees on your X-rays in plain terms, and Amy Orsini at the front desk can prepare a pretreatment estimate and help with insurance questions before you commit. If you need to spread out the cost, see our financing options.
