The Truth About Root Canal Therapy

You hear your dentist speak those three ominous words: “root canal therapy,” and your heart skips a beat because you’ve heard that root canals are something to fear, but is the treatment? Nope, root canal therapy is something you should get excited about. Many times, therapy removes that uncomfortable infection you have and saves your tooth, so you won’t need an extraction. If you’re a little nervous about root canal therapy, learn how Landmark Dental Group makes it easy and comfortable.

The Area Gets Numbed

If you were to walk by a person getting a root canal treatment, it may look a bit overwhelming. The patient has to have a rubber dam covering almost their entire mouth, so the infected tooth can be isolated, and the dentist uses strange tools you haven’t seen before. However, there’s no need to fear root canal therapy because you won’t feel anything. As with many dental procedures, the dentist uses a local anesthetic to numb the area, so you feel nothing while the dentist works. You may look a little silly and feel a little uncomfortable during the procedure, but it should be pain-free.

You Can Request Additional Ways to Relax

If you’re still nervous about the procedure, Landmark Dental Group can help. They offer sedation dentistry options. For minimal sedation, the dentist can administer inhalation sedation (nitrous oxide). With inhalation sedation, you feel completely relaxed during the procedure, but after the procedure, you’re fine to drive yourself home. Oral sedation offers minimal to moderate sedation. You’ll take a pill before the procedure, and you’ll need someone to drive you to and from the dentist. Last, IV conscious sedation is another moderate form of sedation. The dentist uses an IV to administer a sedative, and as with oral sedation, you won’t be able to drive home after the procedure.

The Infection Is Removed

The real pain associated with root canal treatment doesn’t have anything to do with the treatment at all. People who need root canal therapy are often in severe pain because of the infection, which puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth pulp. This is what causes your pain. The root canal therapy is what alleviates that pain. The entire tooth pulp is removed. Your root canal treatment may only take one visit, but sometimes, the dentist breaks it into two so that medicine can be inserted directly into the pulp to help remove the infection.

Aftercare Is Minimal

When you get a tooth extracted, there’s a lot you need to do to care for the affected area, such as avoid eating on that side. However, aftercare for a root canal is minimal. You will need to schedule another appointment for a crown, which will protect the treated tooth from breakage, but with proper care, that tooth may last the rest of your life. You may experience some mild tenderness in the area surrounding the tooth, but that can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics.

It’s common for patients to cringe at the thought of root canal therapy — but there’s no reason. Especially if you’re already in pain from the infection, you should look forward to a root canal treatment because it will alleviate that pain without the need for an extraction. For more information about root canal treatments, contact Landmark Dental Group today.