Get a root canal? I’d rather __.” Fill in the blank with just about any unpleasant act you can think of and you have a pretty good idea of how most people respond to a commonly performed dental procedure. It’s not altogether clear how root canals got such a bad rep, but like many negative dental stereotypes, it probably dates back to the early days of treatment. Ask any dentist about root canals near Lakeview and you might be surprised at what you discover.
Root canals are about eliminating pain, not causing it. A root canal is essentially a kind of flushing measure for your tooth. Your dentist cleans out infected tissues and pulpy matter near the root of your tooth and fills in the hole with materials designed to keep the infection from coming back. Root canals may have been pegged as a painful procedure because the operation takes place close to the tooth’s nerve, but modern powerful anesthetics have pretty much rendered it completely pain-free. Admit it: wouldn’t you rather undergo a fairly mild procedure of relatively short duration than sit around with toothache for days?
A number of tooth-related problems can lead to a root canal. Most common is plain old decay – if a cavity isn’t filled, decay can penetrate the interior of the tooth until it reaches and infects the pulp, causing an abscess. Trauma to the tooth, such as an impact, can also cause infection that may require a root canal.
Root canals near Lakeview don’t always need to be performed by a specialist. Many family and general dentists in the Lakeview are qualified to perform a root canal. There is a branch of dentistry, endodontics, that specializes in the treatment of the tooth’s interior. Certain root canals – especially those involving teeth with more than one canal, such as molars, may demand the expertise of an endodontist.
A root canal may require one or several appointments, depending on the complexity of the tooth and the infection. Your dentist will tell you how many visits the procedure will require. You may be given a prescription for antibiotics before the actual procedure.
A toothache is one symptom that may indicate the need for a root canal, but it’s not always a given. A dying tooth or one that is infected doesn’t always hurt. And not every toothache is caused by an infected tooth. If you have tooth pain of any kind, don’t let fear of a major procedure keep you from seeing your dentist. Chances are you’ll be better off knowing the cause and the treatment options.
When searching for a dentist near Lakeview visit Family Dental Care, your area resource for expert family dentistry providing a full range of services for children and adults.
