What to Know About Your Root Canal

When people think of a root canal, they instantly picture a dentist taking a drill to someone’s mouth. The thought is usually associated with pain and discomfort. However, this is far from the reality of root canals. Due to great advancements in technology, root canals are now completely painless – and will have you feeling better than when you came in.

Why Do I Need a Root Canal?

Root canals are one of the most common dental procedures. Often, patients require a root canal because of uncontrolled decay in the tooth, which can be due to a cavity left untreated. Inside your teeth are chambers filled with living tissue that keeps your teeth alive. These are filled with nerves, tissues, and blood vessels. Sometimes, traumatic damage and deep tooth decay can cause these chambers to become inflamed. This causes pressure to build, which then creates a lot of pain. If left untreated, you can expect a dead tooth and the possibility for infection to spread to the rest of your teeth.

What Happens During a Root Canal

After meeting with the doctor and performing some X-rays, a treatment plan will be agreed upon. If a root canal is the final decision, the procedure will then begin. We start by using topical anesthesia for your gums and then putting the entire tooth to sleep. The inside of the tooth will be cleaned out using a variety of hand instruments. After this, medicine will be placed inside the tooth for a few minutes to clean it out and ensure sterilization. Once this is completed, a filling will be placed inside the tooth and X-rays will be performed to ensure accuracy. About two weeks after the procedure, you will need to have a crown placed over the tooth. This will be performed at your dentist’s office.

Root canals are very easy and painless procedures. If you are experiencing pain in your tooth, call us to make an appointment. If a root canal is required, rest assured you will be in the best care possible at our office.