Root Canal Specialist

What is a root canal?

A root canal, or root canal therapy, is a dental procedure designed to save a tooth that is in danger of extraction due to infection or decay. Beneath your tooth enamel and hard dentin lies pulp, a soft tissue that contains blood vessels and nerves. When your pulp becomes infected or decayed, it can cause a broad range of dental problems, including tooth pain, tooth sensitivity, and even tooth loss.

Fortunately, your tooth pulp does the majority of its work during your initial tooth development, so it’s not actually needed once your teeth have fully formed. To prevent your infection from worsening, your dentist may recommend a root canal to remove this infected pulp.

Why would I need a root canal?

If you have a tooth infection or severe tooth decay, you may experience the following dental problems:

• Gum inflammation
• Swelling of the mouth, face, neck, or head
• Severe tooth pain
• Gum pain
• Tooth sensitivity
• Tooth abscess (a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of your tooth root)
• Bone loss
• Drainage issues

By removing your tooth pulp and cleaning your entire tooth chamber, your dentist can stop the infection from spreading and alleviate your pain.

What is involved in a root canal?

Your dentist starts by taking X-rays of your mouth to determine whether the infection has spread outside of your tooth pulp and into the surrounding tissues and bone. 

At your next appointment, your dentist uses anesthesia to numb the area before drilling a small hole into your tooth to access the infection and remove the pulp and bacteria.

Once your tooth chamber is clean, your dentist fills the hole with a rubber compound called gutta-percha and seals it. If further restoration is needed, your dentist may recommend a dental crown to keep your tooth healthy and strong.

What is root canal retreatment?

Root canal treatment is effective 95% of the time. Occasionally, however, the procedure fails to get rid of an infection entirely, or further issues develop. If this happens, you need root canal retreatment. The process is almost the same as the initial root canal. But with retreatment, your dentist must first remove or alter the restorations previously made.

Severe tooth pain can impact your ability to laugh, smile, and chew without pain. If you think you may be a good candidate for root canal therapy, call Illinois Dental Center of Belmont or book an appointment online today.

Root Canal Treatment