Never Fear: A Root Canal Could Solve Your Pain
Root canals. Patients near and far are TERRIFIED of root canals! Society looks at this procedure as the epitome of horrible things that could happen in the dentist office!
You know, we understand the fear. After all, Hollywood has been dramatizing root canals for decades. You’ve probably seen the scenes of screaming and pain all from a simple root canal, but the truth looks MUCH DIFFERENT.
That’s what we want to talk about today: the truth. We know that if you really understand what to expect from a root canal, you will realize that it is NOTHING TO FEAR!
Do You Fear a Root Canal?
Now’s the time to really evaluate things. Are you getting nervous just reading this information? With the way root canals are portrayed in movies and television shows, it’s no wonder you fear it.
We can’t do anything about dramatizations, but we can help you overcome this fear by explaining when a root canal is needed and exactly what you can expect.
The TRUTH is that there is no reason to fear a root canal. The procedure itself actually ENDS pain; it doesn’t cause pain.
Your Tooth Needs Help
Root canals are only necessary when your tooth needs dire help. Without a root canal, you would lose your tooth. The root canal is the end of the line, final pass to save your tooth from having to be extracted.
Pain
If we are seeing you on a routine basis, we will probably know you need a root canal before the pain begins, but most root canal patients come in with severe pain. We have heard it described in many ways, but all of those descriptions include severe, sharp pain. Some patients tell us they haven’t even been able to lie down to sleep.
Swelling
In other cases, the jaw or cheek will be swelling or warm to the touch. This, coupled with the extreme pain described before, should let you know that your tooth needs to be seen right away.
Infection of the Pulp
The pain, swelling, and heat all point to the same conclusion: your tooth pulp is infected. This isn’t the only cause of a root canal, but it is the most common. Generally, the tooth has a crack, loose filling, or untreated cavity that allowed bacteria to work deep into the pulp of the tooth. The pulp is the soft inside of the tooth where information gets taken to the nerve of the tooth (which explains the extreme pain).
If left untreated, the root of the tooth will die, and you will lose your tooth.
A Root Canal Solution
The only thing to do is to complete a root canal procedure. The first thing you should know is that you will be numbed completely. We even make this process pain-free by using DentalVibe, which is a special tool that makes injections painless! The tool will vibrate against your gums so that your brain doesn’t feel the poke, and then the vibration works the numbing solution deep into your gums and tooth to provide complete comfort.
Cleaning
We begin by cleaning the infection from your tooth. This is much like having a cavity removed. We need to remove the damaged part of the tooth, and clear the bacteria from inside. This will ensure that your tooth can return to health, free of infection.
Repairing
Once the infection is removed, we will repair your tooth. We place a special filling inside your tooth. The filling will kill any remaining bacteria and will also provide a comfortable restoration for your tooth.
CEREC Assisted Crown
Finally, we cover your now healthy tooth with a crown crafted in the office by CEREC. The crown will seal your tooth from further damage or infection so you can go back to life as you know it!
What Pain?
It’s difficult to imagine a root canal being comfortable, but it really is. You won’t feel a thing while we work, and we will make sure you know how to deal with any sensitivities over the next day or two while your tooth heals.
Most of our patients say that the procedure felt like having a cavity filled and were able to return to work immediately after their appointment!
Does that sound like a nightmare dental procedure to you?
Find out more by contacting us today. We would love to answer any questions you have. All you have to do is let us know! We can’t wait to hear from you soon!
