Services · Palos Hills, IL
Endodontics & Root Canal Therapy
Endodontic treatment — most commonly known as a root canal — treats the soft tissue inside a tooth when it becomes infected or inflamed, usually from deep decay, a crack, or an old filling that's failed.
The goal of a root canal is simple: relieve the pain that brought you in, and save the natural tooth instead of removing it. The inside of the tooth is cleaned out, disinfected, and sealed, then typically protected with a crown.
We know "root canal" has a reputation. Modern technique and local anesthesia mean the procedure itself is generally no more uncomfortable than getting a filling — it's the infection beforehand that causes the pain, not the treatment.
If you're dealing with a lingering toothache, sensitivity to hot or cold that doesn't go away quickly, or swelling near a tooth, don't wait it out — call us and we'll get you in to take a look.
Schedule a VisitSigns You May Need a Root Canal
Endodontic treatment is needed when the pulp — the nerve and blood supply inside a tooth — becomes inflamed or infected, usually through deep decay, a crack, repeated dental work on the same tooth, or trauma. Once that tissue is infected it does not recover on its own, and antibiotics alone will not clear it.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers well after the source is removed
- Pain on biting or when pressure is applied to one specific tooth
- Spontaneous, throbbing pain, sometimes worse when lying down
- A tooth that has darkened compared with its neighbours
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum near the tooth, or a small pimple-like bump that drains
- Nothing at all — some infected teeth are silent and are found on a routine X-ray
That last one is why we take X-rays when the exam suggests it. An abscess can develop with no pain, and the first symptom can be facial swelling.
What the Appointment Is Like
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic and isolated so the working area stays clean and dry. We open the tooth, remove the infected pulp, clean and shape the canals, disinfect them, and fill and seal them. Most teeth take one or two visits of roughly an hour to ninety minutes — molars have more canals than front teeth and take longer.
The reputation root canals carry comes from the infection, not the treatment. With modern anaesthetic the procedure feels much like having a filling placed, and it's what stops the pain rather than causing it. Expect the tooth to be tender for a few days afterwards, manageable with over-the-counter pain relief, and improving steadily.
Afterwards, and Why a Crown Usually Follows
A tooth that has had a root canal is more brittle than a healthy one — it has lost its internal blood supply and had material removed from its centre. On back teeth, which take the force of chewing, a crown is usually recommended to protect it from fracturing. We'll raise that as part of the plan up front, not as a surprise afterwards.
A root-treated tooth still needs brushing, flossing, and checkups like any other. It can't decay in the nerve, but the tooth around the filling or crown can, and the gum around it can still develop disease.
The Alternative, and What It Costs
The alternative to a root canal is removing the tooth. That's sometimes the right answer, and we'll say so if the tooth is too broken down to restore. But an extraction leaves a gap that then wants replacing with an implant or bridge, and a natural tooth kept in place is almost always the better outcome for the bone and the bite.
Cost depends on the tooth and the number of canals. Most dental plans cover endodontic treatment, usually at a percentage rather than in full, and CareCredit is available. Call (708) 974-1319 with your plan and we'll check it before you commit.
Common Questions
Endodontics & Root Canal Therapy — Questions Patients Ask
Does a root canal hurt?
The procedure itself is done under local anesthetic, and most patients say it feels much like having a filling placed. The pain people associate with root canals is usually the infection beforehand — the treatment is what relieves it. Some tenderness for a few days afterward is normal and usually manages with over-the-counter pain relief.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
Common signs are lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting down, a tooth that has darkened, or swelling and tenderness in the gum nearby. Some infected teeth cause no pain at all and are found on an X-ray. An exam is the only way to know for certain.
How long does a root canal take?
Most take one or two appointments of roughly an hour to ninety minutes, depending on the tooth and how many canals it has. Molars generally take longer than front teeth.
Will I need a crown afterward?
Usually yes, on back teeth. A tooth that has had a root canal is more brittle than a healthy one, and a crown protects it from fracturing. We'll discuss this as part of the treatment plan rather than as a surprise afterward.
Still have a question? Call (708) 974-1319 or send us a message.