You may not think of root canal procedures as cosmetic, and technically, they’re not. They are restorative dental procedures. However, if you need one and you don’t have one, cosmetic damage will eventually become your plight. When tooth decay is allowed to spread, the nerve of the tooth becomes infected, or the pulp becomes damaged. This can be very painful, and requires immediate attention to save what is left of the tooth. Certain patients, however, have such a fear of dental work, they will do anything to avoid a root canal procedure. Libertyville cosmetic dentist, Dr. Brent Engelberg, explains that sedation dentistry can be a great option for anyone avoiding necessary dental work, such as a root canal procedure.
What is a Root Canal?
Also known as endodontic therapy, a root canal procedure is a dental treatment that eliminates existing infection and protects against further bacterial invasion. Many patients refer to the procedure as a “root canal.” The actual root canals are hollow spaces within a tooth, which are inhabited by blood vessels and nerve tissues.
Root Canal Procedure
In most cases, an x-ray will be taken to ascertain the shape of the root canals, and determine if the infection has spread. Local anesthesia is administered to ensure numbness of the area, for patient comfort. A drill is used to create an access hole in the tooth. The dentist will use root canal files to clean out the infected material. Water, or sodium hypochlorite, flushes away any left-over debris. After the canals are free of infection, the tooth has to be sealed. Your dentist will decide if this should be done within the same appointment. The interior of the tooth is filled with a sealer paste and a rubber compound, and a filling is placed on the access hole that was drilled. If this is just too anxiety inducing for you, you can opt for oral sedation, which is also used for many of our more popular cosmetic dental procedures.
Consult your Libertyville Cosmetic Dentist
Schedule an appointment with our 60092 dentist office by calling 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.
