A Root Canal is Nothing to Fear

August 13, 2014

How many times have you see a ridiculous dental scene in a movie or television show? It seems like the character in horrible pain is almost always getting a root canal! For some reason, this procedure gets more negative associations that any other procedure we offer! The problem is that a root canal is a tooth-saving procedure, and without it, patients would lose their teeth prematurely. It’s important to know why and how a root canal is done so that if we ever mention the words to you, you can rest a bit easier!

The Cause

Root canals are used with the pulp inside of your tooth becomes infected. The outer layers of enamel are hard and solid, but the inner part of the tooth and tooth root is a soft pulp full of tubes and material that interact with the tooth’s nerve. Bacteria can work its way into the pulp and cause an infection. Sometimes, you will feel pain or heat coming from your tooth, but most infections continue without the patient knowing it is happening, until it is too late to save the tooth.

The Cure

A routine appointment will catch an injection of this nature. We will then schedule a root canal, which is very similar to a filling for a cavity. We will remove the infected area from your tooth, and then we will fill it with a special material to prevent further infection. Finally, we will place a crown over your tooth to seal it from further infection. Our patients tell us it is no more painful than a filling.

Root canals have a bad name, but this procedure will save an infected tooth, which is better than dealing with an extraction and restoration! We want you to maintain your natural teeth, and a root canal allows you to do that. Contact us today to set up an exam and cleaning, and be sure to let us know if you have pain in any of your teeth! We can take care of anything that’s going on and help you get a happier, healthier smile!

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