When a tooth is sensitive to heat, pressure or cold, something is wrong. You should see Dr. Stephen Dickey at Total Dental Care right away. After careful evaluation, they may recommend root canal therapy in their Pekin, IL office. "A root canal?" you say. "Doesn't that hurt?" In fact, root canal therapy relieves many painful dental conditions, leaving healthy tooth structure in place to function for many years. Learn more about root canals, or endodontics, and why you may need this restoration.
What is a root canal?
The American Association of Endodontists, specialists in root canal therapy, says this often-used restorative treatment started back in the mid-1800s. The idea was simple: remove the pulp deep inside a tooth to eliminate infection and preserve the tooth. A comfortable treatment that removes the pulp, seals the interior chambers (root canals) and crowns the tooth, root canal therapy in Pekin preserves teeth injured by:
- Extensive tooth decay
- Several restorations such as fillings
- Oral trauma
- Deep fracture
To decide if your tooth could benefit from root canal therapy, Dr. Dickey and Dr. Conroy examine:
- Your teeth and gums
- Digital X-rays of the tooth
- Your symptoms
Signs you may need root canal therapy
Most patients who would benefit from root canal therapy come to Total Dental Care with:
- Throbbing toothache pain
- Sensitivity to cold or heat
- Pain when biting
- Reddened gums
- A pimple or sore on the gums
- A crack in the tooth
- A damaged filling or crown
- Drainage due to infection
- Bad breath
While these symptoms are very worrisome, they can be eliminated with this two-visit procedure. Root canal therapy also avoids the harmful effects of tooth extraction--namely, weakening of neighboring teeth, smile gaps, compromised speech and chewing, and deterioration of gum tissue and bone at the extraction site.
The root canal procedure
Most likely, you'll need nothing more than local anesthetic for your root canal. However, Dr. Dickey and Dr. Conroy also offer laughing gas and oral conscious sedation to relax patients during their treatments.
When you are comfortable, the dentist drills a small hole into the tooth, accessing first root canal. Large teeth, such as back molars, may have up to four canals.
Then, the doctor removes the diseased inner pulp (nerves, connective tissue and blood supply) using some small metal files. He instills antibiotics and fills the canal with gutta-percha, a natural and elastic sealant. He covers the tooth with a filling or crown which will stay in place until the next visit.
At the next visit, your dentist removes the temporary restoration and installs a customized porcelain crown. Your tooth will be pain-free and functional for many years with routine hygiene at home and at Total Dental Care.
Come see us
At the first sign of discomfort, please contact Total Dental Care in Pekin, IL for an appointment. The dentists and their staff want to preserve your teeth so you have strong, healthy smiles for a lifetime. Call (309) 857-7580.