You take a sip of your precious morning coffee and wait to savor the flavor when, out of nowhere, you feel excruciating pain. You take another sip, hoping it was just a fluke when it happens again. You decide to bypass your teeth by sipping your coffee through a stirrer and decide to look up your symptoms online. Your first search indicates that you might need a root canal, but you know that can’t be right. You continue to search, but every result is the same: Call your dentist because you probably need a root canal. At Dental Care of Boca Raton, we want to put an end to your fears and change the reputation of root canal therapy, and there’s no better way to accomplish both than by providing a bit of education.
It’s Just an Infection
Nobody wants an infection, but they happen and we survive. The same can be said when your tooth pulp becomes infected. Like everything else, it can be treated and you will be fine. Also like other infections, if it is not treated, it can spread and cause more pain and further damage (including tooth loss), so no matter what think you know about root canals, you need to get to the dentist.
The Treatment Process
If you are in need of a root canal, we promise that you won’t feel a thing. We will numb the area with a local anesthetic and, if it makes you more comfortable, we can provide sedation to ease your anxieties. Once we’re sure you won’t feel pain, we will begin the process of restoring your tooth.
- First, the infection, decay, or dead tissue is removed. Again, you won’t feel any of this.
- After the canal has been cleaned, we will fill it with a root canal sealer to prevent further infection.
- The last step is to fortify your tooth with a protective restoration. Without it, your tooth may be more likely to break.
- After that, you’re free to go. You’ll have to wait for the numbness to subside before you eat or drink, and you may need a ride home if you’ve been sedated, but there will be NO pain involved.
As you can see, the malignant reputation of the root canal is completely undeserved. What’s more, a root canal is a far better option than having a tooth extracted. If you’re in need of a root canal or even a simple dental exam, we’d love to become part of your healthcare team. We look forward to serving patients from Boca Raton and the surrounding areas.
