Comfortable root canal treatment provided by Pleasant Denta® in Dolton, IL to eliminate your tooth pain

Root canals have a bad reputation for being painful, anxiety-producing treatments. The truth is that they don’t need to be! They can eliminate the source of nagging, chronic tooth pain due to infection or deep decay and provide you much-needed relief. Dr. Dean Dietrich at Pleasant Dental^®  in Dolton, IL is experienced in making sure that root canal procedures are comfortable for his patients and that they don’t feel tooth pain during this effective treatment.

Why a root canal treatment may be needed

The “root canal” is the hollow space in the center of your tooth where the tooth’s nerve resides. The canal is filled with pulp, which consists of connective tissue and cells. Sometimes, it becomes necessary to remove the nerve and pulp from the tooth, such as when the following issues occur:

• Infection within the tooth
• Deep tooth decay
• Severe trauma to a tooth
• Cracked or chipped teeth
• Multiple dental procedures on a tooth or large fillings

When these types of issues occur, your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment to stop pain from the nerve or to prevent further decay, infection, or abscesses from forming.

What to expect during a root canal procedure

The team at Pleasant Dental^®  takes preventive measures to ensure that your root canal procedure is as pain-free as possible. Because root canals are often needed due to an infection deep in a tooth, it can be difficult to completely numb the tooth. To avoid this problem, Dr. Dietrich gives most of his patients antibiotics before their procedure to reduce the pain from the infection and provide a more comfortable, pain-free root canal experience. It is common for patients become so relaxed that they even fall asleep during the procedure!

At your appointment for your root canal treatment, the area surrounding the affected tooth will be numbed with a local anesthetic so that you don’t feel anything during the procedure. All the bad tissues will be cleaned out. After the tooth is completely cleaned, the tooth root canal system will be sealed up. A filling is then placed in the tooth. Finally, your dentist may place a crown or other type of dental restoration on the tooth to prevent it from fracturing or decaying in the future. These steps may need to be done in multiple visits depending on what your dentist recommends for your individual dental needs.

After the treatment is complete

When your root canal treatment is over, you may experience some tooth sensitivity in the area due to inflammation in the tissues. This is natural and will subside over time, but it can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol or ibuprofen in the meantime. If you have a temporary filling or crown placed on the tooth, it is best to chew on the other side of your mouth until the permanent tooth restoration is in place to minimize contamination in the affected tooth and prevent cracking or other damage.

The standard oral hygiene practices that are recommended for your normal teeth are sufficient to care for the tooth treated by root canal therapy as well. You should brush after every meal or at least two times per day and floss daily to keep food and bacteria from forming plaque and getting in the spaces between your teeth. Regular preventive visits to your dentist are also important for keeping the tooth healthy and free from further complications.

Pleasant Dental^® is here to make your root canal treatment comfortable and effective

Dr. Dean Dietrich and his team at Pleasant Dental^® put their patients first and are committed to making sure you are comfortable and taken care of during your procedure. Dr. Dietrich will sit down and talk with you about why he recommends a root canal or other treatments, answer any questions or concerns you have about the procedure, and will not nickel and dime you over the treatment cost. He also provides high-quality preventive care to help you avoid needing other treatments in the future.

Stop suffering with tooth pain and call Dr. Dietrich at Pleasant Dental^® in Dolton, IL today at (708) 576-1900 to schedule your consultation!

Dean Dietrich, DDM

Dr. Dean Dietrich has been practicing dentistry since 1986, when he received his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Southern Illinois University's School of Dental Medicine. He had completed his undergraduate studies in business marketing and management at Michigan State University from 1978 to 1982.

He opened Pleasant Dental in 2003 to provide excellent dental care and value for his patients. He is especially skilled and experienced with root canals, implants, and handling dental anxiety.

Dr. Dietrich is a member of the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society, Chicago Dental Society, and the Indian Dental Association. He is licensed in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan and has orthodontic certification from the Academy of GP Orthodontics. Multiple agencies have recognized him annually as one of America’s Top Dentists.

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