Questions About Root Canal

May 11, 2014

Root canal sounds like a very serious matter and it doesn’t help that it is notoriously known for being a very painful and painstaking dental procedure. If you’ve been to your South Carolina dentist recently and he suggested a root canal treatment, don’t panic. Here are some information that may help you better understand your treatment.

What is root canal?

A root canal is when an infected, damaged, or decayed pulp needs to be removed to eliminate the risk of developing other serious dental conditions such as abscess and drainage problems that can infect your gums and affect skin.

What happens during a root canal treatment?

A root canal treatment involves removal of the pulp and cleaning of the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber is the center of a tooth, which contains the pulp composed of nerves, connective tissues, and blood vessels.

After cleaning, your South Carolina dentist will then seal the opening of the chamber to keep bacteria out of that tooth. The chamber actually continues and extends to the tooth root, which is then connected to the jawbone that’s why it’s important to treat damaged pulp because infection can actually reach into the bones.

You can ask your doctor for sedatives if you feel you won’t be able to handle a root canal treatment. Though there have been patient accounts saying that this treatment is no more painful than getting a tooth filling, it is still up to your tolerance and it is best to talk to your dentist if you feel any discomfort even before starting the procedure.

What happens after treatment?

If properly done, you will experience instant relief from toothache after getting your root canal treatment. Your South Carolina dentist may prescribe a painkiller like ibuprofen that you can take once the anesthesia wears off. If the pain you feel doesn’t go away after a few days and your situation is not improving, tell your dentist immediately so further evaluation can be done for your tooth.

Have more questions about root canal? You may call Total Dental Care of South Carolina at 803-272-4162. The clinic, headed by Dr. Doug Forbes, offers expert root canal treatment, gum care, and sedation dentistry services.

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