Preventive care is an incredibly important part of protecting the health of your smile. Too often though, routine wear and tear as well as poor hygiene at home can compromise the health of teeth by opening the door for cavities. While most of the damage can be proactively treated with fillings, sometimes cavities become too deep and infected the delicate inner pulp chamber. To effectively treat these inner tooth issues, our Chicago dentist may recommend root canal therapy.
What is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure used to save teeth suffering from pulp infection. This typically occurs when cavities or cracks leave the inner pulp chamber exposed to bacteria, leaving the nerves and pulp tissue vulnerable to infection. Root canal treatment removes all infected tissue and bacteria, leaving the tooth structure in place.
Endodontic infection is not only painful, it can also compromise patients to other serious consequences. When teeth are left untreated, the bacteria can spread through the root canals to the jaw below teeth, creating an abscess in the bone and requiring oral surgery.
Symptoms of Infection
When it comes to endodontic treatment, often the symptoms are much more painful than the actual procedure. Some of the warning signs we recommend patients look out for include:
- Severe and persistent toothache
- Swollen, tender gums
- The appearance of a pimple on the gums
- Sensitivity to extreme temperatures
- Persistent pain in the tooth, jawbone, or neck
- Difficulty chewing
The sooner you receive root canal therapy, the sooner our Chicago dentist can help alleviate the pain you’re experiencing. It’s also important to note that not every patient may experience symptoms. Staying up to date with routine visits to 26th Street Dental Center helps Dr. Ogbara monitor changes to your smile and treat potential issues before they get out of hand.
Root Canal Therapy at 26th Street Dental
At our Chicago dental office, root canal therapy is typically completed over two appointments. During the first visit, our Chicago dentist will create a small access point behind the tooth through which he’ll remove the damaged tissue and clean the inner pulp cavity. Once we’ve sterilized the inner chamber, we’ll fill with inner cavity with biocompatible material and seal the access point with composite filling. This helps prevent reinfection and protects the tooth as it heals.
During your second visit, Dr. Ogbara will place a porcelain crown on the tooth. This helps reinforce the tooth’s strength and restores full oral function to your smile.