Dealing with tooth pain? You might just need root canal treatment.
Sure, most dental procedures don’t really have the reputation of being fun; however, root canals really get a lot of negative press and it’s unfortunate since this procedure saves countless teeth each year. That’s right; without root canal treatment, many patients would have to have their permanent tooth extracted and replaced, which is far more extensive, expensive and time-consuming than a simple root canal treatment. From the office of our Decatur, IL, family dentists Drs. Chad and Natalie Corley, learn more about this procedure and let’s squash your fears surrounding root canals.
What are the warning signs that I need root canal treatment?
Along with keeping up with your six-month checkups, it’s also important that you visit your Decatur, IL, dentist right away if you are dealing with any of these symptoms:
- A toothache (often severe and made worse when chewing or biting down)
- Lingering and severe tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
- Darkening of the tooth
- Swollen, tender gums around the tooth
- The development of an abscess (a pimple-like bump on the gums)
You may only experience dental pain or you may experience several of these symptoms (or none at all); however, it’s important that you seek dental care as soon as possible to prevent the issue from getting worse.
What is the purpose of a root canal?
The sole purpose of root canal treatment is to remove the infected or inflamed dental pulp, a soft structure that lies within the tooth. Once a tooth has fully matured the dental pulp is no longer necessary for the health of the tooth; however, if bacteria gets through the outer layers of the tooth it can infect the pulp and lead to a nasty toothache. The only way for our dentist to get rid of your toothache is to remove the infected dental pulp.
Isn’t a root canal painful?
A root canal should never cause pain. In fact, despite what you may hear, the purpose of this endodontic procedure is to remove the source of your toothache and to provide you with relief. An infected dental pulp can cause a pretty nasty toothache and we know that the only thing you want to do is get rid of the discomfort. A root canal is really no more invasive than getting a dental filling and we even numb the area before treating the tooth so you won’t feel a thing. After all, our goal is to provide you with the utmost comfort when it comes to getting dental care.
Do you have questions about your upcoming root canal treatment in Decatur, IL? Dealing with a toothache that requires immediate care? Then turn to Corley Family Dental right away for dependable, efficient dentistry each and every time. Your smile is our priority.