Root canal therapy is one of the best things modern dentistry offers. However, this procedure is feared by many people, largely due to misinformation. This article will give you all the information you need before receiving a root canal. This will help you understand the procedure and its benefits and make you feel more at ease when visiting our Spruce Grove dental office.
Why Do You Need a Root Canal?
You may need to undergo root canal treatment near you for many reasons. The most common one is tooth decay. At first, dental cavities affect only the external layer of your tooth (the enamel). However, as time passes and the cavity isn’t treated, it erodes more tissue and gets deeper into the tooth until it reaches the pulp. This part of the tooth holds the blood vessels and the nerve. Once the infection reaches the pulp, a root canal is the only way to treat it. Otherwise, the infection can progress and cause a dental abscess or spread to other body parts.
Root canals can help after dental injuries. When a tooth is fractured, the pulp can become damaged, exposing the nerve. Also, the tooth is prone to infection. Therefore, our dentist in Spruce Grove may perform this procedure in these cases. Finally, root canal treatment is the last therapeutic option available for people with severe tooth sensitivity that doesn’t improve with any other treatment.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure where our dentist near you will drill a hole into your tooth until they reach the pulp. Afterward, they will assess the condition of this tissue and remove all of the infected and devitalized pulp. To prevent further infections, an antimicrobial solution is applied to the tooth, which is then sealed with a dental filling.
Does the Procedure Hurt?
This is the main reason why people fear undergoing a root canal in Spruce Grove, and this fear is completely unfounded. Like with many other dental procedures, our dentist will administer local anesthesia before a root canal to numb the area where they will work. Therefore, it is not possible for you to feel any pain during surgery. If you suffer from anxiety or have a specific phobia, our dentist may use general anesthesia so that you are unconscious during the procedure and don’t remember a thing.
Even though you won’t feel any pain during the procedure, it is possible for you to feel sore during recovery, mainly because of inflammation. Nevertheless, the discomfort you may feel while you recover is much more bearable than the pain caused by tooth decay. In any event, our dentist will prescribe pain medication for you to take for a few days until the discomfort stops.
Root Canal Treatment is the Best Option
Receiving a root canal near you is much better than its alternative (extraction), especially for those with tooth decay. A root canal will halt the infection and, as a result, the pain caused by dental cavities. Also, it helps preserve your natural teeth. Generally, when patients with tooth decay avoid undergoing this procedure, the infection progresses, and in the end, a root canal is no longer an option. Instead, they have to undergo tooth extraction. This procedure is much more complicated than a root canal, and the recovery is longer and more painful. Also, after having a tooth extraction, these patients must look into tooth replacement which can be very expensive and lengthy.