If you needed a root canal, would you know it? Would you know what this restorative procedure involves? At Lynch Dental Center in River
Forest and Chicago, IL, Dr. John Lynch, Dr. Sheila Lynch, and Dr. Frances Lynch use root canal therapy to save teeth compromised by decay, injury, abscess and failing structure. Read about the signs which show you may need a root canal.
What is root canal therapy?
The American Association of Endodontists, dentists with specialized experience in root canal treatments, say that this time-honored procedure restores teeth which are in danger of extraction. Oral trauma, infection and deep decay can inflame the soft pulp deep inside a tooth. When this happens, the individual may experience no symptoms whatsoever. However, many people exhibit signs such as:
- Fever
- A throbbing toothache
- Pain when biting and chewing
- Dental sensitivity to heat and cold
- Jaw swelling
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Deep cracks or large chips
- Red, swollen gums
- A pimple at the gum line
- Tooth discoloration
To relieve these symptoms, your River Forest and Chicago, IL, dentist will access the tooth's inner chamber, including its root canals, and removes the diseased material. And, it's all done painlessly in just two visits to Lynch Dental Center.
What's the treatment like?
Root canal therapy begins with locally injected anesthesia to make the tooth and the area surrounding it completely numb. Then, the dentist drills a small hole to access the first root canal. There can be one or two canals as in a front tooth or up to four in a large molar.
Then, he or she cleans and debrides the canal with fine metal files of increasing size. The addition of antimicrobial medication and a sealant called gutta-percha finishes the canal. When all canals have been treated, the dentist places a temporary filling or crown over the tooth.
After one to two weeks of healing, the patient returns to the office for placement of a customized porcelain crown. This restored tooth is now completely functional, durable and attractive. Best of all, the uncomfortable symptoms are relieved and the lifespan of the tooth, lengthened by many years.
Contact us
The American Association of Endodontists states that dentists save as many as 15 million teeth annually using root canal therapy. If you have a sickly tooth, you may be a candidate for this effective and reliable procedure. Call your River Forest, IL, dentist without delay to schedule a consultation. Phone (708) 366-6411 for the River Forest office. In Chicago, IL reach Lynch Dental Center at (312) 263-3235.
