Root Canals
Rockford & Loves Park, IL
Root Canals
Rockford & Loves Park, IL
A root canal, also known as root canal therapy, is a dental procedure that involves treating the pulp of a tooth that is infected.
A root canal, also known as root canal therapy, is a dental procedure that involves treating the pulp of a tooth that is infected. The pulp, which is comprised of living connective tissue, can get infected when a tooth is cracked, or a cavity has gotten so bad that the infection has spread to the pulp.
A root canal is a quite common procedure and is necessary to save a tooth once the infection has spread into the pulp. If the tooth is not treated quickly, the tooth may likely need to be extracted.
The team at Burch Dental has a simple goal. That is to ensure your trust through our commitment to quality treatment and your continued satisfaction. It is our daily agenda to maintain a caring environment that is respectful and comfortable for everyone. Our team members are united in our efforts to promote oral health by means of prevention, enhancement, wellness, and rejuvenation. Call or visit one of our convenient locations today to schedule your appointment for an evaluation to determine if you might benefit from a root canal procedure.
Are You a Candidate for a Root Canal?
To identify if you need root canal therapy, it is important to understand the different symptoms of the pulp of a tooth being infected.
Whether it is a good thing or bad, it will be extremely obvious that there is something wrong once the pulp of your tooth becomes infected. That it is because you most likely be in a lot of discomfort or pain.
Some of the symptoms of an infected root pulp include:
- A severe toothache.
- Swelling of your gums.
- Pain while trying to bite and chew food.
- Changes in the shade or color of a tooth.
- Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold foods, such as ice cream.
- Pain when you apply pressure to the tooth.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should set an appointment with Burch Dental as soon as possible.
It is also important to know just why root canal therapy needs to be done. Some of these reasons include:
- Infection
- Tooth Decay
- Trauma to the Tooth
- Fracture of the Tooth
- Dead Tooth Nerve
Do not allow the issue to persist longer than at all possible. Take care of your infected tooth as soon as you can.
Pulpotomy
Pulpotomy is the term that is used for root canal therapy for children. Your child’s primary teeth are softer than your teeth, and therefore are more susceptible to decay. For this reason, they are more likely to get a tooth infection. Pulpotomies are like root canals for adults. Our team will decide if pulpotomy is necessary for your child by inspecting their tooth for decay and infection.
Pulpotomy
Pulpotomy is the term that is used for root canal therapy for children. Your child’s primary teeth are softer than your teeth, and therefore are more susceptible to decay. For this reason, they are more likely to get a tooth infection. Pulpotomies are like root canals for adults. Our team will decide if pulpotomy is necessary for your child by inspecting their tooth for decay and infection.
The Root Canal Procedure
The first step of a root canal is visiting Burch Dental for an exam. There, we will exam the tooth and confirm the problem. If it is just minor decay, you may only need a cavity filled. If the pulp is infected, we will decide on whether the tooth is able to be saved or not.
Once our team has made the decision to go ahead with a root canal, we will first start by administering a local anesthetic to numb the immediate area and even consider a dental sedation if necessary, to address discomfort and anxiety. The next step in the treatment is to drill a small entry hole and remove any injured pulp. We will then disinfect the root canal system. After the inside of the tooth is clean, a rubbery substance will be placed into the pulp chamber and the root system. Then a filling will be used to seal the tooth to prevent any further infection. If the tooth has a significant amount of decay, your team may decide to place a dental crown to ensure the strength of the tooth.
While a root canal is usually completed within one visit, it may take more than one visit depending on the amount and type of treatment that is required.