For some people, just the words “root canal” are enough to send them running away from the dental office. Considering that the only exposure that most people have to the procedure is from hyped-up media portrayals that only talk about how awful root canals are, that reaction almost makes sense. The truth, however, is far less scary. In the hands of a root canal specialist using advanced technology, treating an infected tooth with a root canal is not worse than any other dental procedure.
The fact is, the tooth problems that require a root canal are very painful and need to be treated right away so they don’t get worse. But, if patients are afraid of root canals, it’s difficult for them to get the care they need. In almost all cases, the pain of the condition is far worse than the treatment.
At Penn Dental Family Practice, our root canal specialists want to help you understand the process, and put you at ease. They’ll be able to take care of the affected tooth, relieve your pain, and restore your tooth, without you feeling a thing. There’s no reason to fear a root canal procedure!
Let us walk you through the ways that the providers of Penn Dental Family Practice can help make you comfortable with your procedure.
How Our Dentists Put You at Ease When Performing a Root Canal
A root canal procedure is the dental technique that root canal specialists use when a patient’s tooth pulp has become infected and formed an abscess. The pulp is the fleshy part of the gums that contains nerves, veins, and other important parts of the dental anatomy that keep your teeth healthy. When it becomes damaged due to trauma or illness, your tooth is at risk. Aside from being very painful, this situation can create a dangerous environment for your tooth, cutting off valuable nutrients the tooth needs to survive.
In order to treat the infection quickly and painlessly, and save your tooth, root canal specialists will do several things:
- Local anaesthesia: The inflamed pulp around a tooth can be very painful. During your root canal procedure, your dentist will inject the site with a local anaesthetic, providing relief for the entirety of the procedure. It’s likely that you’ll experience much less pain during the procedure than you did before it!
- Fast procedure: Our root canal specialists are good at what they do, and you can expect the procedure to go quickly and thoroughly. Typically, the entire procedure takes only 60-90 minutes. The damaged and infected pulp is removed and the site is cleaned, so your gums will be soothed and healed. After injecting the site with a restorative and comforting paste, the dentist will restore functionality with a crown or filling.
- Aftercare: Your restored tooth will function just like before the trauma, but it will be sore for a few days. This soreness can be alleviated by proper care and hygiene, and your dentist will prescribe medication to help with swelling and discomfort in the meantime. If you follow the advice of our root canal specialists, you’ll be doing just fine in no time!
What is Endodontics?
The root canal specialists at Penn Dental Family Practice are endodontists. These are dentists who complete at least two additional years of education and training beyond dental school, focused on treating issues with tooth nerves. Although they most often perform root canals, endodontists also perform other types of oral surgery and endodontic procedures.
Typically, patients are referred to endodontists by their general dentist when a specific tooth is showing signs of infection, or they are experiencing swelling or pain that requires immediate treatment.
Set Up Your Appointment Today
When you come to Penn Dental Family Practice, you don’t need to worry about your root canal procedure. Our root canal specialists will put you at ease and make you feel comfortable in your procedure.
Don’t wait! Give us a call to set up an appointment for your root canal today.