Dental Fillings For Cavities in Summit Illinois
One of the most common dental issues, especially for kids is dental cavities. A cavity is simply the result of dental decay. Bacteria in our mouths break down our teeth over time. Sugars in the food we eat as well as acidic conditions from beverages can speed up that process. A cavity forms when the outermost layer of the tooth (the enamel) is destroyed. This allows bacteria to access the inside of the tooth. Unfortunately, you might not see or feel a cavity while it forms. Cavities frequently form in places that are difficult to see and difficult to reach with a toothbrush. Cavities will often form between teeth or in the back molars, especially in the natural divets where food and bacteria can stick. A dental filling is a treatment where the decayed section of the tooth is removed, the remaining tooth is cleaned, and a material is placed inside the hole or divet left behind. Modern-day dentistry allows us to provide fillings that match the look of the rest of your teeth.
What Is A Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal treatment is similar to a dental filling in some ways. A root canal is necessary when decay spreads deep into a tooth. The roots of a tooth are underneath the gums and are what attach the tooth to the jaw. The roots also have nerves in them. When decay infects a tooth’s root it can lead to severe toothaches and eventually tooth loss. In fact, in the old days before the root canal treatment was invented, root infection almost always required tooth extraction treatments. Luckily, root canals can help us save the tooth. A root canal treatment involves removing the decayed section of the root of a tooth and then filling in the root. In order to get to the root some of the top of the tooth will need to be removed. For that reason, dental crowns are often required as part of a root canal treatment.
Are Fillings & Root Canals Painful?
Modern dental treatments are designed to be as painless as possible. Before any treatment, a patient’s mouth will be numbed so that they will not be able to feel anything during the treatment. Even before injecting the numbing agent, most dentists will use a numbing gel to numb the injection sites. During the treatment, patients do not feel anything other than slight pressure. After the treatment, it is common to feel some discomfort as the numbing wears off. However, if there is severe pain or pain that is not going away after days, you should call your dentist. Sometimes if there is an issue with how the filling is placed it can cause excess pressure on the tooth.
Schedule Dental Treatments in Summit IL
If you live in or around Summit Illinois you can contact us to schedule a dental visit for yourself or a member of your family. We also have locations throughout Chicago so if you are looking for a dental office closer to home or where you work, feel free to view all of our locations.