Root Canal Therapy

You may cringe at the mere mention of a root canal but the truth is that they really aren’t all that bad. Most people don’t even realize what a root canal entails and the anxiety and apprehension often comes from the fear of the unknown and not the procedure itself. Root canal therapy is a very common procedure that most people end up needing at one point or another. The procedure may sound painful but it is actually a relief to those suffering from a toothache caused by a diseased pulp.

Basically there are small canals in your teeth that may become infected. When the infection spreads to the canal you end up with pain that is usually quite intense to say the least and may even end up with swelling that is visible on your face. The infected canal and diseased pulp needs to be drained and treated which is where root canal therapy comes in. Something that many people don’t realize is that a cavity that is left untreated is the most common reason for people needing root canals. Many people are guilty of putting off treating a cavity whether it be to avoid the cost involved with fillings or simply wanting to avoid some discomfort at the dentist. But by leaving a cavity untreated you only end up costing yourself more money and causing yourself more discomfort in the end.

During root canal therapy the dentist will numb the area for the procedure and you may even be a candidate for sedation. The tooth is then drilled to the pulp for draining and cleaning and then measured using X-rays so that the dentist can fill it properly using the ideal amount of filling material. Once all of the diseased pulp has been removed and all of the canals cleaned, the canal will be filled with a special flexible plastic substance and then a temporary filling will top it off. During your next appointment a permanent filling or crown will placed on the tooth instead. The reason this isn’t done right away is to allow the dentist to ensure that there is no further sign of infection.

Having root canal therapy may be the last thing you want but because this is for your health and not simply for aesthetics you don’t really have many other alternatives if you want to save the tooth and surrounding teeth. The actual root canal procedure doesn’t actually cause any pain thanks to the numbing agent and/or sedation. There may be some minimal pain afterwards but nothing unmanageable. And while no one wants to feel pain, the discomfort that you may feel after the procedure is very mild in comparison to what an infected tooth pulp causes.

You can speak to your dentist about your concerns and see if you are a candidate for conscious sedation. The use of sedation can greatly help your comfort level during this procedure as well as other dental procedures. A simple consultation can answer all of your questions and concerns.