Root Canals Are Not Painful
Do you cringe at the term "root canal"? If so, you may not have a clear understanding about what a root canal procedure actually is and what it is used for. Unfortunately, many people believe that root canals are painful. This is a myth that couldn't be further from the truth. The reality is that root canals are a painless procedure that actually brings patients out of pain from an infected tooth. Root canals treat and save a tooth, but they certainly do not hurt.
When is a root canal suggested?
All of your teeth have roots that anchor them to your jaw bone. They also have a hollow chamber, or canal, inside the center. In this chamber is a pulp, which contains nerves, blood vessels and tissues. When this area gets damaged, either by decay or advanced gum disease, it can cause a very painful infection. The infection can even spread to the gums and surrounding mouth tissues. If the damage is not too severe, a root canal can help patients avoid a tooth extraction. This procedure treats the infected pulp of the tooth and restores it to health.
What happens during a root canal?
During a root canal, your dentist will first and foremost numb the area with local anesthesia. Patients can also take advantage of sedation dentistry options if needed. The dentist will begin by drilling a hole in your tooth and removing the decayed or diseased pulp. Next the root canal will be thoroughly cleaned, which includes eliminating bacteria, tooth fragments and tissue. An antiseptic (and sometimes also antibiotics) will be injected into the pulp chamber to kill any remaining bacteria.
After the root canal and pulp chamber are dried, a permanent filling material is used to replace the pulp. At the final step, your dentist will place a composite restoration or crown on your tooth to protect it and restore its structure.
With today's advanced technology and improved anesthetic options, patients have every opportunity to receive a painless root canal. A procedure you may be dreading, may be the only procedure that will bring you out of pain and save your tooth at the same time. At Timber Springs Dental, we put patient comfort as our top priority. Whether you are in for a routine cleaning or a root canal, you can rest assured that you will have a stress-free, pain-free experience with us. Don't let root canal myths keep you from getting the dental care you need and deserve.