Over the years, this term has struck fear into the hearts and minds of countless dental patients, conjuring up images of pain and suffering while sitting in the dentist’s chair receiving treatment. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. If you’ve been told by your dentist that you need a root canal to treat a diseased or damaged tooth, there’s no need to worry.
Millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with this very safe, painless, and minimally invasive procedure.
Root Canals Explained
This endodontic treatment is performed to save a seriously damaged or decayed tooth that has either an inflamed or infected pulp. If the situation is not addressed and corrected, the condition can become increasingly severe, potentially requiring extraction of the tooth. The procedure is called a root canal because the dentist must use a series of small drills to remove the diseased pulp and nerves found in the root of the tooth.
In reality, a root canal is very similar to getting a filling in a decayed tooth. The major difference is that for a root canal the dentist must drill farther down to reach the root of the tooth to remove the injured or infected pulp. Once that is done, the treated area is cleaned and the tooth is filled and sealed with a material that prevents additional infection.
At the end of the procedure the dentist will prepare the treated tooth for a crown that is placed over the tooth during a follow up appointment. Once the crown is in place, you once again have a normally functioning tooth.
Root Canal Procedure – Answers to Your Questions
Having explained the basics of root canal therapy, you may still have some lingering questions, and we’ll try to answer some of those for you.
Q: How long does a root canal take?
A: In most cases, a single root canal can be completed in about 60 to 90 minutes.
Q: How painful is a root canal?
A: In preparing the infected tooth for this procedure, the dentist will treat the area with a local anesthetic, and you should feel no pain at all during the procedure.
Q: What are the main symptoms indicating the need for a root canal?
A: Any of the following symptoms may point to the need for a root canal.
- Severe pain while chewing or biting
- Pimples on the gums
- A chip or crack in your natural tooth
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold substances
- Swollen or tender gums
- Deep decay or darkening of the gums
Q: Will I receive a temporary or permanent filling?
A: There are no temporary filling provided during this dental procedure. A permanent filling is secured in your tooth to prevent futher infection.
Take Care Of Your Teeth: Root Canal Treatment in Naperville, IL
If you’re suffering any of these symptoms, we urge you not to ignore the pain and risk losing the tooth. Contact us today at Naperville Commons Dentistry to schedule your root canal treatment.
