False Teeth - Making the Right Choices

The Process Of Getting A Root Canal

The only thing worse than forgetting to visit the dentist is letting your teeth decay to the point that you need to see an oral surgeon. An oral surgeon will cost much more than a traditional dentist, and the operations are usually much more complex. One common dental procedure is a root canal. This article will look at the procedure and help you realize that it is nothing to be scared of. It is not a procedure that you should put off. The sooner you have your root canal, the more successful and pain-free it will be.

Sedation or Local Anesthetic?

Many people think a root canal is an intense and painful surgery. In fact, thanks to better medicines and dental tools, the procedure is more like getting a cavity filled. Of course, it is a more serious surgery, but the pain should be no more severe, and you always have the option of sedation to ease your worries. Sedation dentistry is typically more expensive, but some people need it. If you have had bad experiences with local anesthetics during a traditional cavity filling, you may want to consider sedation dentistry. If you are just being locally numbed, you should make sure you tell your dentist if you feel anything. Feel free to stop the dentist in the middle of drilling to ask for more anesthetic.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal basically needs to be done when a cavity in a tooth gets so big that the hole reaches the nerves in the root. When the decay reaches the nerves, it is extremely painful. This is why a root canal involves entirely removing all of the nerves inside each root of the affected tooth. Then, the roots are filled with small plastic posts that prevent decay from penetrating into the roots. The rest of the tooth is filled like a normal cavity and you are sent on your way. A tooth with a root canal should no longer feel anything. While the tooth can still get cavities, it will no longer be such a painful experience.

If your dentist tells you that you need a root canal, get it done as soon as possible. Don't put it off to the point that you end up needing an implant and crown. These procedures are much more severe and expensive than a root canal in the long run. Contact a dental office like Grace Dental for more information.


Share