Stop Fearing Your Root Canal

While more than 25 million are performed each year in the United States, root canal therapy continues to be one of the most feared procedures in dentistry. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Endodontics, more people (59%) are afraid of getting a root canal than speaking in public (57%), spiders (55%) or being trapped in an elevator (54%). Such intense fear of root canal therapy sadly comes from misconceptions about this effective and heroic endodontic treatment for an infected tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.

When is a Root Canal Needed?

When decay or infection penetrates the innermost portion of the tooth structure, the nerves of the tooth are affected and it is at risk of dying. In order to save the tooth and eliminate the discomfort, a root canal may be needed. Root canal therapy is a time-tested and straightforward procedure to effectively treat a painful tooth infection and save the tooth from extraction.

Root canal therapy is commonly used to treat the following situations:

• Abscessed tooth
• Severely fractured tooth
• Tooth with deep cavities
• Severe tooth sensitivity

Root Canals Relieve Pain, Not Induce Pain

Contrary to popular belief, root canals are not painful. Most patients report that getting a root canal is no more uncomfortable than getting a dental filling. In fact, a modern dentist uses advanced anesthetics and can offer sedation dentistry for those who need extra help relaxing during their procedure. The goal of a root canal is to clear out the infection that is invading the sensitive nerves of your tooth, which in turn relieves discomfort.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

During a root canal, we will carefully remove the infected tooth pulp. After sanitizing the area and cleansing residual bacteria, he will seal the tooth center with a special filling material. In most cases, the affected tooth will need a dental crown to restore the tooth’s integrity and protect it against future infection. Rest assured that we inform patients of every step of their treatment plan so that they feel totally comfortable in the care they receive.

Infected teeth can disrupt your day-to-day activities and become unbearable in some cases. You may struggle to eat or even sleep due to the excruciating pain of an infected tooth. The last thing we want you to do is to fear the very procedure that can bring you out of pain. The sooner you seek treatment for your infected tooth, the quicker we can relieve your pain and restore optimal health to your smile. Call Green Dental of Alexandria today to schedule your root canal therapy. We want to change the way you feel about dental care.