Did you know that a root canal is a painless, non-surgical procedure that corrects your tooth pain? Don’t let what you’ve heard about root canals keep you from getting this common type of endodontic care. If you need a root canal, getting one as soon as possible can let you keep the affected tooth. At Southwest Endodontics, we offer root canals at both our locations to help our patients finally get relief from their pain.
Expert Root Canal Care At Southwest Endodontics
What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is the procedure endodontists perform to save a tooth from loss caused by severe decay. Bacteria inside the tooth’s root canals eat away the tooth’s interior and produce inflammation as a byproduct. The inflamed pulp causes pain, and the erosion inside the tooth could eventually cause the tooth to require pulling.
Root canal treatment removes the infected pulp and any remaining foreign matter from the tooth. Cleaning out the inside of the canals serves two purposes.
First, it helps the tooth to stop hurting because it extracts the painful pulp from the canals. After a brief recovery from the procedure, during which you will likely have less pain than before the root canal, you will finally have full, completely pain-free use of the tooth.
Second, cleaning out the canals protects you from having another infection occur later. Today, top endodontists use high-tech solutions to kill all bacteria inside the tooth thoroughly. Doing so lowers patients’ chances of complications after the root canal. One effective method to clean out canals is the Gentlewave technology, which we use at Southwest Endodontics.
After removing the bacteria and pulp affected by the germs, the endodontist must seal the tooth against future exposure to germs.
A successful root canal clears all bacteria and infected pulp from the tooth to avoid complications after the procedure. Additionally, you get to keep your tooth instead of possible extraction.
Why Would You Need a Root Canal Treatment?
Your canals inside the tooth need to stay isolated from the rest of the mouth. The tooth may require root canal treatment to clear out bacteria, prevent severe infections, and save the tooth when exposed to the outside air.
Conditions that can open the root canals to the outside include decay and fractures. Deep decay has a high likelihood of causing an infection inside the tooth because bacteria can also cause tooth erosion. Those bacteria need removal from the inside of the tooth because they will continue to wear away tooth matter.
A fracture in a tooth is another method that opens the canals to the outside. Sometimes, fractures happen from an accident that causes a visible break in a tooth. Other times, the damage may be very small or caused by grinding your teeth. You won’t always be able to see if you have a crack in a tooth that requires a root canal.
Whatever situation above applies to you, you should connect with one of our Southwest Endodontics offices if you have any of the following symptoms of a problem inside your tooth canals:
- Pain and sensitivity when consuming cold, hot, or sweet foods or drinks
- Visible fracture in a tooth
- Gum swelling or redness
- Pus or a pimple on the gum
- Loose tooth
- Facial swelling
The damage done inside the tooth’s canals does not reverse itself. You need treatment to feel relief from the pain in your tooth and prevent the extra pain and longer recovery required of extraction.
What Does an Endodontist Do During a Root Canal
The root canal treatment process begins before the endodontist takes out any tools to work on your tooth. First, they need to take either digital radiographs of your tooth or three-dimensional images with a cone beam CT scanner. We use both of these technologies at Southwest Endodontics because they give our doctors better images and lower patient radiation exposure.
The endodontist will use the images to verify that you need a root canal. Next, they will prepare you for the procedure. Your gums and teeth in the treated area will be numb throughout the procedure so that you will feel no pain at all.
Even with the opening in your tooth that allows bacteria to get inside, it will not be enough for the endodontist to fit their tools inside. Therefore, you may hear drilling as the doctor opens the tooth just enough to allow for cleaning the interior.
With the Gentlewave process, we effectively clean out and sanitize your tooth’s canals. After cleaning, your tooth has a sealant and filling added. Follow all directions for aftercare and follow up with your dentist to get a crown, if required. Promptly protecting the tooth with a crown lowers the chances of bacteria returning inside the tooth.
What You Can Expect After the Root Canal
After your root canal, you may have pressure or sensitivity for a few days.
Over-the-counter pain relievers help ease discomfort. You can return to work or school the same day as the procedure and eat unless the endodontist requires you to get a crown from your dentist. Until you get a crown, avoid eating on the treated side to reduce biting pressure that could damage the filling.
Once your discomfort from the procedure subsides, you should not feel any pain in the tooth. The pain relief and the chance to save a tooth make root canal treatment worthwhile.
Serving Orland Park, IL, Geneva, IL, and Surrounding Area, Southwest Endodontics Can Help Your Tooth Pain with a Root Canal
If you have pain in a tooth or other common signs that you might need root canal therapy near Chicago, don’t put off scheduling a visit with us at Southwest Endodontics. Reach out to your closest location to see us for a root canal that relieves your tooth pain and saves the tooth. You can get the same great care at either of our locations in Geneva or Orland Park.