Root Canal Treatment in Lincolnwood, IL
Despite their place under the surface, the roots of a tree are essential. Not only do they keep the tree secure, but they also provide important nutrients that help it grow and flourish. The roots of your natural teeth act similarly, hidden underneath your gums. Tooth roots are responsible for securing your teeth in place and for stimulating your jawbone to keep it healthy and full. Additionally, when you’re young and still growing, tooth roots provide nutrients that support tooth development! When roots become infected, whether it be tree roots or tooth roots, early intervention is key. If treated promptly, the infection can be removed from the roots, and the tree or tooth can be saved! While you may need a professional arborist to treat the roots of a tree, Dr. Hatland in Lincolnwood, IL, provides effective root canal treatment to relieve tooth pain and save your tooth from extraction.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Before understanding root canal treatment, you must first understand the anatomy of a root canal.
Your tooth has two main parts to its structure. The crown, or upper portion of the tooth, lies above the gum line, allowing you to chew effectively. The root, however, is the bottom portion of the tooth below your gum line.
Inside your roots, past the layers of white enamel and yellowish dentin, lies the root canal. This open space houses dental pulp, or a collection of blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. While dental pulp is less useful later in life, it provides important nutrients while your teeth are still developing.
However, if bacteria eat away at your enamel and dentin, they can reach the pulp inside your roots, causing an infection. This is typically painful due to the sensitive nature of dental pulp, and without treatment, your tooth may need to be extracted!
But if he’s able to, Dr. Hatland will use root canal treatment to remove infection, provide pain relief, and save your tooth from extraction!
Do You Need a Root Canal?
It’s often difficult to assess your own dental needs. Fortunately, Dr. Hatland can evaluate your dental issues, find the source of your problems, and provide treatment! If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact him as soon as possible to learn if you need root canal treatment.
- Persistent tooth pain
Sensitivity to temperature- Pain while chewing
- Discoloration of enamel
- Swollen gum tissue
- Bumps on the gums (an abscess)
- Large and deep cavities
- Loose or unstable teeth
If your pain is severe and long-lasting, please contact Dr. Hatland immediately to schedule an emergency appointment. While he won’t always be able to see you right away, he will get you in as soon as possible to provide effective pain relief.
Breaking Down Root Canal Treatment
When you come into Dr. Hatland’s office for dental pain, he’ll perform a thorough dental exam and take digital X-rays of your smile to find the source of the problem. Then, he’ll create a custom treatment plan that targets both your oral and overall health, as the two are interconnected.
If you’re dealing with a root canal infection, he’ll use root canal treatment!
Unfortunately, this procedure has a bad reputation thanks to the days before more advanced anesthetics. Nowadays, with modern dentistry standards in place, root canal treatment is more about relieving pain than causing it.
Using a powerful local anesthetic, Dr. Hatland will numb your smile to keep you comfortable. Once you’re numb, he will begin your root canal procedure!
First, he will secure a dental dam around your infected tooth to keep it dry. Then, he’ll make a small opening in your crown to access your root canal below the gums. Using specialized dental tools, he will carefully remove the pulp from your roots. Once your roots are clear of pulp, he will clean and disinfect the canals to ensure your roots remain free of debris.
Finally, to protect your tooth from re-infection, Dr. Hatland will fill the canals with a material called gutta-percha and place an artificial dental crown over your tooth for additional protection.
While root canals relieve the worst of your dental pain, you may experience some tenderness for the first few days of healing. Fortunately, any discomfort is easily managed with over-the-counter medications.
Save Your Tooth From Extraction in Lincolnwood, IL
Just like the roots of a tree, tooth roots are an important part of your natural tooth’s structure. However, when infection breaches your roots to infect the dental pulp within, Dr. Hatland uses root canal treatment to clear your canal of bacteria. With this effective and safe treatment, he can provide pain relief and save your tooth from needing an extraction!
Book an appointment with Dr. Hatland today to find out if you need root canal treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because Dr. Hatland uses a local anesthetic, root canals are typically comfortable for most patients. Your smile will be numb throughout the procedure, preventing you from feeling the effects of the process.
Additionally, for those with dental anxiety who hesitate to undergo these important procedures, we have a variety of solutions for you! Dr. Hatland believes it’s important to keep the mind, body, and smile happy and healthy. Fortunately, with his gentle and understanding approach, he can help relieve anxiety, allowing you to relax during your procedure.
While it’s common to experience mild soreness and discomfort after the first 24 to 48 hours of a root canal, it’s easily manageable with over-the-counter medications. Afterwards, it takes about a week or two to feel totally normal again after root canal treatment. Any pain or inflammation will go down by then, allowing you to eat and function normally.
However, if your post-operative discomfort persists beyond the first 2 weeks, book an emergency appointment with Dr. Hatland to ensure your smile is healing properly.
It’s a common misconception that root canal treatment is a temporary fix that only lasts a couple of years. In reality, your root canal-treated tooth can last 10 to 15 years, or even a lifetime, with the proper care!
Brushing your teeth, flossing, and attending routine dental visits help keep your smile clean and healthy. By taking care of your smile and your protective dental crown, you can keep the area around your tooth free from infection or decay, ensuring your crown’s longevity.