Root Canal Therapy in Murfreesboro: How Treatment Can Save an Infected Tooth

A tooth that throbs through dinner, wakes you at night, or hurts every time you bite can make extraction feel like the only way to get relief. In many cases, though, the painful part is the infected tissue inside the tooth. The root and much of the tooth itself may still be healthy enough to keep.

Root canal therapy removes that inflamed or infected tissue, cleans the narrow spaces inside the roots, and seals them. Afterward, the tooth is repaired with a filling or crown so you can use it again. Instead of removing the whole tooth, the treatment keeps the natural root in the jaw.

At Salem Creek Family Dental in Murfreesboro, TN, Dr. Ashley Costello and Dr. Alaina Skidmore can examine the tooth and explain whether root canal therapy is likely to save it. They will also check for cracks, bone loss, and other damage that could change the recommendation.

What Becomes Infected Inside a Tooth?

The part of the tooth you see is covered by enamel. Underneath is a softer layer called dentin, and at the center is the pulp. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue that extend into small channels inside the roots.

Bacteria can reach the pulp through a deep cavity, crack, broken filling, or injury. Once the pulp becomes badly inflamed or infected, a surface filling cannot reach the problem because the infection is sitting inside the tooth.

Root canal therapy treats that inner space. It removes the damaged pulp while leaving the outer tooth and roots in place. As a result, the tooth can often stay in the mouth rather than being removed.

How a Tooth Infection Can Start

Deep decay is one of the most common causes. A cavity may begin as a small weak spot in the enamel, then slowly move through the dentin until it reaches the pulp. By that point, the tooth may be very sensitive or begin aching on its own.

Cracks can create another path for bacteria. For example, a tooth with a large filling may flex a little during chewing, and a small fracture can deepen over time. The crack may be too fine to see in the mirror and may not show clearly on a regular X-ray.

Older crowns and fillings can also develop gaps around their edges. Bacteria may work underneath even when the restoration still looks fine from above. In addition, a past injury can damage the pulp months or even years after the tooth was hit.

Signs You May Need Root Canal Therapy

Lingering sensitivity is a common warning sign. The tooth may keep aching after the hot coffee or cold drink is gone. A quick twinge can happen for several reasons, but pain that hangs around needs to be checked.

You may also feel a deep ache or sharp pain when chewing. Some patients say the tooth feels bruised or slightly taller than the others because the tissue around the root is inflamed.

Other signs include swelling, a recurring bump on the gum, darkening of the tooth, or a bad taste from drainage. On the other hand, an infected tooth can become quiet after the nerve dies. So, the absence of pain does not always mean the problem is gone.

Why Tooth Pain Can Come and Go

An inflamed nerve does not always hurt at the same level all day. The tooth may ache for several nights, settle down for a while, and then start again. That temporary break can be misleading.

Pain may also fade when the nerve tissue dies. Even then, bacteria can remain inside the root canals and spread into the surrounding bone. Later, the tooth may become sore when you bite or develop swelling near the gum.

For that reason, Dr. Costello or Dr. Skidmore will not rely on symptoms alone. Testing the tooth and taking X-rays helps show whether the pulp is healthy, inflamed, or infected.

An Abscessed Tooth May Still Be Saved

A dental abscess forms when infection moves beyond the root and into the nearby tissue. You may notice swelling, a tender bump on the gum, pressure in the face, or drainage that leaves a bad taste. Some abscesses are very painful, while others drain and cause surprisingly little discomfort.

Even so, an abscess does not always mean the tooth has to come out. If the root is intact and enough solid tooth remains, root canal therapy can remove the infected material inside the canals. Then, the tissue and bone around the root can begin healing.

Facial swelling, fever, trouble swallowing, or difficulty breathing needs urgent attention. These symptoms can mean the infection is moving beyond the immediate tooth area.

Antibiotics Do Not Fix the Tooth by Themselves

Antibiotics may be prescribed when swelling is spreading, fever is present, or the infection is affecting the body more broadly. They can help control bacteria in the surrounding tissues, but they do not clean the inside of the root canals.

The source still needs treatment. In most cases, that means root canal therapy when the tooth can be saved or extraction when it cannot. Antibiotics may calm things down for a while, but the infection often returns when the tooth itself is not treated.

Dr. Costello or Dr. Skidmore will decide whether medication is needed based on the swelling, symptoms, health history, and exam. Often, a localized infection is treated by addressing the tooth directly.

How Root Canal Therapy Saves the Tooth

Once the tooth is numb, a small opening is made through the top. The inflamed or infected pulp is removed from the center of the tooth and from the narrow canals inside the roots.

Next, those canals are cleaned, shaped, and disinfected. They are then filled and sealed to reduce the chance of bacteria getting back inside. Finally, a temporary or permanent filling closes the opening at the top.

A fully developed tooth can function without the pulp. It continues to receive support from the bone and tissues around the root. Once the final restoration is complete, the tooth can usually return to normal chewing.

Will a Root Canal Hurt?

The tooth is numbed before treatment begins. For many patients, the pain from the infection is much worse than the procedure used to treat it.

During treatment, you may feel pressure or vibration, much like you would during a filling. However, you should not feel sharp pain. Tell the team if you do so the area can be numbed further.

Afterward, the tooth may feel tender for a few days, especially if it was already painful before treatment. That soreness should ease rather than build. New swelling, stronger pain, or a bite that feels too high should be reported.

Why a Crown May Be Needed Afterward

Root canal therapy treats the inside of the tooth, but it does not replace structure lost to decay, cracks, or old fillings. Back teeth also handle strong chewing pressure. If the cusps are thin, the tooth can fracture even after the infection is gone.

A crown covers the visible tooth and helps hold the remaining structure together. It also restores the chewing surface and protects the sealed opening. Some front teeth may only need a filling when most of the natural structure is still present.

Because of that, the final restoration should not be put off without talking with the office. A temporary filling is not meant to handle long-term chewing, and an unprotected tooth can break before the crown is placed.

When a Tooth May Not Be Saveable

Root canal therapy needs a tooth with a usable foundation. The roots should be intact, the surrounding bone should provide enough support, and enough healthy tooth must remain for a filling or crown.

A complete vertical root fracture often makes treatment unreliable because bacteria can continue moving through the crack. Likewise, severe gum disease may leave the tooth too loose to function well, even if the infection inside it could be removed.

Decay that reaches too far below the gum or a tooth that has split into separate pieces may also need extraction. Dr. Costello or Dr. Skidmore will explain what they see and whether rebuilding the tooth has a reasonable chance of lasting.

How We Check the Tooth

The visit starts with a conversation about what you have been feeling. We may ask what triggers the pain, how long it lasts, whether chewing hurts, and whether swelling has appeared. A past injury or a history of large fillings can also help explain what changed.

The tooth may be tested with cold, gentle tapping, or biting pressure. Nearby teeth are checked too because dental pain does not always point neatly to the right spot.

X-rays help us see deep decay, the roots, surrounding bone, and signs of infection near the root tip. If the anatomy is complex or the source of pain is still unclear, a three-dimensional scan or referral to an endodontist may be useful.

What to Do While You Are Waiting for Care

Try not to chew hard or crunchy foods on the painful side. A weakened tooth can break farther under pressure, especially when a crack or large filling is involved. Softer foods and smaller bites are usually easier.

Meanwhile, keep brushing and flossing gently around the area. Cleaning will not cure an infection inside the tooth, but food and plaque around the gum can make the area feel worse.

Over-the-counter pain medicine may help when it is safe for you and taken as directed. However, do not place aspirin against the tooth or gum because it can burn the tissue. Call promptly if swelling appears or the pain is making it hard to sleep or eat.

After Root Canal Therapy

Mild tenderness during chewing is common for a few days. Until the permanent filling or crown is in place, avoid hard foods on the tooth, especially when a temporary restoration is being used.

Continue brushing and flossing as directed. Keeping the gumline clean helps the tissue settle and protects the edge of the final restoration.

Once the tooth is fully restored, it should return to regular use. Routine dental visits then allow us to check the filling or crown and watch the bone around the root as it heals.

Root Canal Therapy at Salem Creek Family Dental in Murfreesboro

A tooth infection does not always mean the tooth has to be removed. When the roots are intact and enough healthy structure remains, root canal therapy can clear the infection and keep the natural tooth in place.

At Salem Creek Family Dental in Murfreesboro, TN, Dr. Ashley Costello and Dr. Alaina Skidmore can evaluate lingering sensitivity, pain when chewing, swelling, deep decay, and concerns with older dental work. They will explain whether root canal therapy and a final restoration are likely to give the tooth a stable future.

Call Salem Creek Family Dental when a tooth keeps throbbing, wakes you at night, hurts when you bite, or develops swelling near the gum. Treating the problem before more of the tooth breaks or the infection spreads may improve the chance of saving it.

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Categorised in: Root Canal Therapy