Root Canals Are Nothing To Be Afraid Of

Fun days at the dentist are few and far between, but you don't need to fear your visits. A great dentist, equipped with modern equipment and medicine, can make once painful procedures much more manageable. One off the most common, yet intense dental procedures is having a root canal. While having a root canal done on a large molar won't be fun, the experience is relatively simple. For many patients, knowing the procedure makes it much less traumatic. This article explains the process of having a root canal performed and crown put on a tooth.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is done on a tooth with a cavity that has reached the nerves in the roots. Basically, the tooth is no longer able to remain in the mouth unless something is done because the nerves will start to decay and cause excruciating pain. This is why it is good to get a root canal done as soon as a problem is diagnosed. The longer the nerves are exposed, the more inflamed they get and the more painful the root canal will be.

The Procedure

When a dentist or oral surgeon performs a root canal, they essentially hollow out all of the roots in the tooth and fill them. The canals, even on the larger molars, are very narrow. The hollowing out and filling of the roots is very detailed work. First the dentist will grind away the center of your tooth to access all of the roots. Tiny drills penetrate deep into the roots, removing all of the nerves. Although the nerves are very sensitive, you will not feel anything during the drilling. You should be adequately numbed. If not, stop the dentist and ask for more! Many people can't even stand the sound and smell of the dental drill, so they pay for sedation. This is great if you are particularly fearful of dental work, but it will cost a lot more to be sedated.

Getting a Crown

Most dentists will suggest that you have a crown put on the tooth. So much of the tooth is ground away that it might look best to have a crown put on. The texture of a crown is preferable to the texture of a large filling, especially on a large chewing tooth. The crown will need to be fitted and installed over the course of two visits. Neither of these visits are painful and they will not require any sedation or numbing.

To learn more about root canals, speak to a dentist, such as Chris T. Thomas, DDS.

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