Frequently Asked Endodontic Questions in Palos Heights IL

You may need a root canal if you have lingering pain in a tooth after eating or drinking cold or hot foods or pain with biting or chewing. Prolonged or increasing pain following a filling or crown preparation or placement, could be an indication that a root canal is necessary.

Endodontics is the dental specialty that diagnoses and treats root canal related issues in teeth. When the nerve inside your tooth becomes inflamed or dies or if a previous root canal becomes infected, your dentist will often refer you to an endodontist to save your tooth with an endodontic procedure.

We do our best to accommodate patients for emergency care the same day. The time offered for these appointments varies so that we are still able to provide exceptional care to our scheduled patients and patients who call having a dental emergency.

Signs of a tooth infection or abscess can include, but aren't limited to: pain, swelling, a bump on the gum near your tooth, or a foul odor or taste in your mouth.

The best things you can do to avoid needing a root canal are to brush twice daily, floss daily, and visit your dentist for regular cleanings, exams, and images

Call your dentist as soon as possible for an appointment if you have severe tooth pain or swelling. If swelling is making it difficult to swallow breathe, go to the nearest emergency room.

As with any medical or dental procedure, complications can occur. Complications include, but are not limited to: swelling, pain, bruising, post-operative infection, and procedural challenges. Your endodontist will discuss with you any potential risks or complications prior to treatment.

Let us know when scheduling your appointment about your apprehensions. We understand that dental procedures can cause people anxiety, and we have options for helping manage those fears. We will always provide kind and compassionate care to every patient.

An extraction can result in shifting of your other teeth, reduced chewing ability, and sometimes even lower self-esteem. While implants and bridges seem like easy solutions to tooth loss, they both come with their own set of risks and complications. You should always consult your dentist before opting for an extraction to see what your replacement options are.

The most common causes of tooth infections are tooth decay, tooth trauma, and poor oral hygiene.

While general dentists are able to perform root canals, endodontists complete an additional two years of training with the sole focus being diagnosing and treating root canal related problems.

Over the counter products like, acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can be taken to help with tooth discomfort. However if you have not had an evaluation by our endodontist yet, please avoid taking these medications prior to your appointment as they can mask your symptoms making it difficult to diagnose. We can provide these medications in office after your examination.

You should be comfortable during your procedure after receiving local anesthetic, commonly referred to as numbing. Some tenderness is to be expected following your procedure, however this discomfort typically subsides within a few days.

While we do not offer general anesthesia, you can talk to your endodontist at your evaluation about what sedation options might be best for you.

Your endodontist will do a radiographic (x-ray) evaluation, a physical evaluation, and testing of the area of concern to ascertain the health of each tooth they examine. After these evaluations, they will discuss with you their findings, your treatment options, and answer any questions you have.