Everything You Need To Know About Root Canals

There are a lot of people out there who do not like visiting the dentistand will put it off for as long as they can. It’s somewhatunderstandable as having dental treatment can be uncomfortable,even under sedation. One thing that many people dread being told isthat they need to have a root canal.

Root canals have a reputation amongst people who’ve never had onefor being painful and something to fear. However the truth is that theyare nothing to worry about and are simply another kind of treatmentthat’s necessary for your oral health.

Are they really necessary?

If your dentist has told you that you need a root canal then the answeris yes. Although it may be possible to fill the tooth as a temporarymeasure, it’s always better to get root treatment as soon as possible.

The purpose of a root canal is to save your tooth by treating the pulp(the soft tissue inside your tooth), which may have become inflamed orinfected. Untreated problems with pulp inflammation or infection canlead to a variety of problems included abscesses and pain.

Are they painful?

This is one of the biggest things that people worry about but the truthis the vast majority of people who get a root canal do not experienceany pain. In fact the only part that could be described as unpleasant isthe administering of the local anaesthetic.

Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, the rest of the procedure can becarried out without any pain or discomfort. In fact a lot of people saythat having a root canal is preferable to getting regular fillings. This isusually because there isn’t as much drilling involved.

The benefits of getting a root canal

It’s important to remember that the purpose of getting a root canal isto save your tooth when it would otherwise have to be extracted.Other benefits include -

Retains the natural appearance of your teeth Allows you to chew food as normal without any discomfort Protects your other teeth from any strain or wear You can bite with regular force without worrying about damage

or pain.

Where do I receive root treatment?

Any qualified dentist will be capable of doing root canal treatmentsalthough you may prefer to go to a root canal specialist. A specialistwill have more experience carrying out root canals and will be betterequipped to deal with any complications that might arise.

That being said, you may feel more comfortable with your regulardentist, in which case they will be more than capable of carrying outthe procedure in a way that’s effective and completely painless for you.Ultimately the decision is yours to make.