This four-part series provides a comprehensive overview of root canal therapy: why it’s sometimes needed, what the procedure involves and what patients can expect.

1. The Implant Dentist in Chicago Explains Root
Canal Therapy, PART 1
This four-part series provides a comprehensive overview of
root canal therapy: why it’s sometimes needed, what the
it’
procedure involves and what patients can expect.
We all think we know what root canal therapy is. Unfortunately, if you ask Chicago
residents what it is they do know about it, they’ll tell you: “it’s an incredibly painful
dental procedure.” This is just not the reality. Root canal therapy is done to save the life
of a tooth that has become damaged or decayed and would otherwise need to be extracted.
In other words, it helps Chicago residents keep their natural dentition intact and prevents
the need for costly restorative procedures, such as dental implants.

2. In this four-part article series, an experienced “All On Four” dentist in Chicago explains
the A-Z of root canal therapy, looking at popular questions, including: “What is root canal
therapy?” “When is it needed?” “Is it painful?” and “What will recovery be like?”
What is Root Canal Therapy?
Endodontics is the field of dentistry concerned with conditions and diseases that affect
the delicate collection of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue that is housed within
a tooth. Endo means “inside” and dont means “tooth”. If you recall your 8th grade
biology lessons, you will remember that a natural tooth consists of a hard layer of enamel
overlying softer, more porous dentine. In the heart of the tooth lies the pulp chamber
where all the soft tissues are housed. Blood vessels and nerves run the length of the small
canals inside the roots, connecting the tooth to the jawbone.
“The dental enamel is supposed to protect the entire tooth structure from bacteria,”
explains an experienced implant dentist in Chicago. “And while the enamel is the hardest
substance in the body, it is not invulnerable. Should the tooth become cracked, chipped or
decayed, bacteria can find a way into the pulp chamber, leading to a very painful
infection. Root canal therapy is performed to eliminate internal infection and restore the
tooth to its previous integrity.”

3. What Necessitates Root Canal Therapy?
“There are really two main reasons your dentist may recommend endodontic treatment of
a tooth,” says the implant dentist in Chicago. “Infection or physical damage”…
Untreated Cavities
Untreated dental cavities are the most
common reason bacteria get into a
tooth and infect the pulp chamber.
Once safely inside, bacteria can
multiply without restraint (since your
toothbrush cannot
reach
them
anymore) and the acidic wastes they
produce inflame and infect the pulp.
Infection also reduces blood flow to
the tooth, which compromises its
ability to heal.
“Treating this kind of infection with antibiotics is futile,” explains the “All On Four”
dentist in Chicago. “Since the pulp chamber is encased by the hard tooth structure, there’s
no way for it to push the diseased tissue out, as the rest of the body does with infection.
Once infection has set in, the only remaining option is a root canal. It’s that or tooth
extraction.”

4. Damage to the Pulp Chamber
The second most common reason Chicago implant
dentists recommend endodontic therapy is for the
treatment of teeth that have sustained damage that has
exposed the pulp chamber, leaving it vulnerable to
bacteria. This damage can be caused by:
� Physical trauma sustained in, for example, a car
accident or sports game.
� A fractured tooth, which might be caused by tooth
grinding or biting down hard on an olive pit.
� A tooth that has undergone a lot of restoration and
repeat fillings.
� Preparing a tooth to receive a crown also comes with the risk of accidentally
exposing the pulp chamber, in which case a root canal may need to be done to avoid
infection.
Stay Tuned for Part 2
Stay tuned next week for the second installment of this four part article series to find out
just why root canal therapy is so important and what the signs and symptoms you may
need one are.
Thanks for Reading