Root Canals

Our dentists at Glen Ellyn Dentistry place a strong emphasis on preventive and general dentistry to maintain the health of our patients’ teeth. When a tooth becomes damaged, decayed, or compromised, however, we shift our focus to curative treatments designed to address the issues and preserve the patient’s natural tooth. In more severe instances, a root canal treatment can often be the last resort in saving a tooth. 

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is actually a piece of anatomy. Root canals are the canal-shaped channels located inside the roots of the teeth. The term “root canal,” however, is often used to refer to a root canal treatment that is also sometimes called root canal therapy. 

Root canal therapy is the process of removing the pulp inside a tooth and its roots, cleaning and sterilizing the tooth’s interior, and then filling it with gutta-percha before placing a permanent crown over the tooth to protect and support it. 

When Do You Need a Root Canal?

A root canal is usually necessary as a last-resort effort to save a significantly damaged, diseased, or decayed tooth. When a fracture, chip, compromised filling, or dental cavity has progressed far enough to expose the interior tissues of a tooth (pulp) to bacteria, a root canal is needed to eliminate infection and prevent further complications. 

How Common Are Root Canals?

Root canals are very common. In fact, some sources estimate that about 25 million root canal procedures are performed each year. Due to their efficacy and routine nature, these procedures also have an impressively high treatment success rate of 98%. 

Are Root Canals Painful?

Root canals have a reputation for being painful and difficult to go through. This, however, is a misconception. Modern dental medications, tools, and techniques have been designed to create a painless, comfortable experience for patients throughout a root canal procedure and its recovery period. 

We use a powerful, local anesthetic to ensure patients are thoroughly numb through a root canal so they experience no pain or discomfort while in our dental chair. Additionally, using our BIOLASE Waterlase dental laser greatly eases the experience with vibration and heat-free drilling. 

What To Expect During a Root Canal Procedure

The first step in a root canal is the administration of a local anesthetic. Once the anesthetic has taken effect and the treatment area is completely numb, we can begin the root canal procedure. 

A root canal begins with our dentist using a BIOLASE Waterlase dental laser to drill the tooth. Drilling enables us to remove the damaged portions of the tooth and the infected interior pulp of the tooth and its root canals. We then clean and sterilize the inside of the tooth before filling it with a special dental material called gutta-percha. At this point, a temporary filling is placed on the top of the tooth, and dental impressions are taken to manufacture a permanent dental crown. 

Once the patient’s dental crown is ready, we place the permanent crown at a second dental appointment. The crown is permanently attached to the tooth with dental cement. The tooth is then free from infection and both strengthened and supported by the dental crown. 

Root Canals and Restorative Dentistry in Glen Ellyn, Illinois

If you need a root canal, know that you are in good hands at Glen Ellyn Dentistry. Our dentists are highly experienced in performing root canal procedures and placing permanent crowns to preserve our patients’ natural teeth. 

To learn more about root canals or to request an appointment, we welcome you to contact our dental office in Glen Ellyn, Illinois at 630-942-0727 today.