Root Canals in Oak Lawn, IL Are an Effective Treatment for Infected or Damaged Teeth
At Identical Smiles, we offer advanced care for infected teeth: modern root canals in Oak Lawn, IL, to preserve your tooth structure and alleviate pain. If there is infected or inflamed tissue within your tooth, then this treatment can be used to prevent the infection from spreading and save your tooth from extraction.
Our goal is to preserve your natural teeth whenever possible, and a root canal treatment can be a great choice if you have a severe infection or damage to a tooth. For more information about endodontics and other advanced treatments, schedule a consultation at our dental office, located near you in Oak Lawn, IL.
Why a Root Canal is an Effective Solution to Save a Tooth
If an infection or inflammation moves deep into your tooth and reaches the inner pulp, then root canal therapy is often the only alternative to a tooth extraction. Deep decay, fractures/cracks, or dental trauma can cause the inner pulp and nerves to become exposed. As a result, pain and an abscess can form.
It’s essential to seek prompt dental care. A root canal dentist not only alleviates your immediate symptoms, but these treatments can help you avoid complications in the future. At Identical Smiles, our goal is to support your long-term oral health through modern dentistry. Visit our office close to you to learn more about why root canals are often a necessary dental treatment.
A deep infection won’t go away without treatment. If you have ongoing discomfort, then it could be an indication that you have a nerve infection that requires root canal therapy.
Do you feel a “zing” when your tooth comes in contact with hot or cold temperatures? This sensitivity could be an indication of pulp damage.
Any signs of infection or swelling within your mouth should be treated immediately. A root canal can be an effective treatment for advanced decay or an abscess.
At Identical Smiles, we offer emergency dental care for sudden and intense symptoms, including toothaches, dental trauma, and more.
How a Root Canal Treatment Can Preserve Your Natural Tooth
Before root canal fillings were discovered, tooth extraction was the only option to alleviate severe dental pain. Now, modern dentistry makes it possible to remove the infection from the inner areas of the tooth, while ensuring that the outer structure of the tooth stays intact.
A root canal dentist can restore the function of your tooth and eliminate your pain at the same time. It’s important to remove the infection as soon as possible to prevent further complications and damage to the surrounding teeth, tissues, and bones. Our local team is here to provide your personalized treatment plan to preserve your smile and minimize the risk of more advanced treatments in the future.
Choose a root canal instead of a tooth extraction to keep your natural teeth for as long as possible.
Eliminating the inner infection will stop your pain and help you recover from a toothache as quickly as possible.
Root canal teeth are often treated with a crown after the infection has been removed, offering long-lasting strength and durability.
After your root canal has healed, you will be able to chew and bite comfortably.
Endodontic Procedures: Techniques, Technology, and Safety
Root canals fall in the category of dental endodontics, which is a specialized type of treatment within the dental industry. Modern instruments are used to ensure precision throughout the appointment. Digital imaging allows the endodontists to clean and seal the tooth effectively, helping to reduce the risk of re-infection or other complications after the treatment.
After the infection is removed, careful steps are followed to clean and seal the tooth. Then, the open area is filled and protected to prevent additional damage to the remaining tooth structure. Visit our nearby dental office in Oak Lawn, IL, to learn more about how this treatment works.
Infection Removal
During your root canal appointment, the dentist will drill into the center of the tooth and use specialized tools to remove the infection.
Internal Cleaning
Once the pulp and nerves have been removed from the tooth, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sterilized to eliminate any remaining bacteria.
Tooth Sealing
Next, the inside areas of the tooth are sealed to prevent reinfection and complications in the future.
Durable Protection
Modern dentistry allows for customized crowns that will cover the remaining portion of the tooth so that you have long-lasting results after the treatment.
Post-Op Instructions for Root Canals
A root canal will provide immediate relief for a severe toothache, but even though the nerves have been removed, it’s still normal to experience a bit of soreness and sensitivity for a few days after the treatment. Since the tissue around the tooth was inflamed due to the tooth infection, it takes time to heal.
Here are a few things that you need to know about recovery after root canal therapy:
- In the first 24-48 hours, you will likely have mild to moderate discomfort. Over-the-counter pain medications (such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen) can be used to manage the discomfort.
- You might notice a small amount of swelling around the treatment area.
- Don’t chew on the side of the mouth where the root canal was done, especially if you are still waiting for your permanent crown restoration.
- Brush and floss as usual, but be extra gentle around the treated tooth.
- Don’t eat hard, crunchy, or sticky food until you have the permanent restoration in place.
- Always come back to visit our endodontists for follow-up appointments, because the next appointment might be necessary to finish the final restoration.
- If you notice that your pain gets worse 2 or 3 days after the appointment, or the swelling is spreading, then it could be a sign of infection, and you should call our office immediately.
- Call us right away if the filling is loose or falls out.
Our root canal dentist is here to help, offering customized dental endodontics to ensure a successful outcome for every patient. Contact us to schedule an appointment and learn more about post-root canal recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
While many people think that root canals are painful, the reality is that modern dentistry makes this procedure as simple and comfortable as a normal filling. We use a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort. Also, removing the infected pulp and nerves will relieve pain, not cause it.
Most of the time, root canals can be completed in one visit. Patients with severe infections might need to come back to our nearby office for a follow-up visit to finish the treatment and restoration.
When you delay this dental treatment, it allows the infection to spread. Not only will your pain get worse over time, but it also increases the likelihood that your tooth will be damaged beyond repair (requiring a dental extraction).
If you need a root canal, make sure that your dentist has endodontic training and extensive experience with these types of treatments.
