Getting a Root Canal – Not as Scary as You Think!

A root canal (or root canal therapy) is a dental procedure where a dentist repairs and saves your badly infected tooth. Repairing an aching tooth sounds scary, right? Contrary to popular belief, a root canal is an effective and painless procedure. Below are four interesting facts about root canals which we hope will ease your fear of visiting the dentist when a toothache starts.

1.     Tooth and Gum Pain Relief

Root canal therapy is a procedure to treat tooth pulp that is infected. Pulp refers to the soft part at the center of your tooth that's made up of blood vessels and nerves. During the procedure, your dentist will remove the infected pulp, clean, and seal your tooth.

The removal of the infected tissues and nerves from your tooth will not affect the functionality of your tooth. Instead, you will be free from persistent tooth pain caused by the infection.

2.     Save Your Natural Tooth

Root canal therapy saves your natural tooth while removing diseased tissue. If an infected tooth is left untreated, bacteria can multiply and spread into your gums and jaws. When the tissues that are near your unhealthy tooth get infected, an abscess builds up. An abscess refers to pus-filled pockets. Abscessed teeth can cause excruciating pain. In worst-case scenarios, the bacteria from your tooth can spread to your bloodstream. Thankfully, a root canal can help you avoid such consequences.

With a root canal, the infection is removed. This means that the risk of the spread of infection to other teeth and your bloodstream is eliminated. After the infected pulp is removed, your dentist will seal your tooth, and you get to keep it-a win-win situation.

3.     Visits Needed for a Root Canal

Root canal therapy takes several steps but getting you out of pain is the dentist's first goal. Root canals can sometimes be done in a single appointment but may require two depending on the severity of the infection and location of the tooth. You should expect to be in the dental chair for 1-2 hours in most cases.

If a second appointment is needed to complete the root canal, a temporary filling material will be used until you return. The dentist will advise you if a crown is needed to restore the tooth which also may be done on a second visit.

4.     Not as Painful as You Think

Root canals are standard procedures and not as painful as you think. Your dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the tooth as they remove the infected pulp. The good thing is, a little discomfort is worth it as, in most instances, root canals have a high success rate.

Don't let your next toothache go untreated. There are a variety of options to get you out of pain, including root canal therapy.