If you have been informed that you could benefit from root canal therapy and you struggle with dental procedures, you may be tempted to skip this therapy. It is very important that you resist that urge. Root canals eliminate bacteria from an infected tooth root canal. Without paying necessary attention to the infection that is plaguing your mouth, you could suffer consequences far more challenging than those associated with the therapy itself.

When Is a Root Canal Necessary?

You may be required to seek root canal therapy if one of your teeth has cracked, you have developed a cavity deep within your tissue, or some other issue has caused this deep tissue to become infected and inflamed. Some people are alerted to the need for root canal intervention when their mouth becomes particularly – and unusually – sensitive to temperature or their breath becomes suddenly – and relentlessly – bad.

Essentially, suppose your tissue has become so infected that lack of immediate attention to the problem could lead to far more extensive – and painful – dental work needs. In that case, it is time to speak with a root canal treatment specialist.

What to Expect

As an experienced root canal treatment specialist – including those who practice at TruGlo Modern Dentistry – can confirm, many people fear root canals simply because they don’t know what to expect. They may have images in their minds of the psychotic dentist from Little Shop of Horrors going to town on a vulnerable mouth with a construction drill. In reality, if you need root canal therapy, it is important to understand that when done correctly, by a reputable and qualified professional, the experience is hardly noteworthy.

Your dentist will need current x-rays before moving forward. Once these images are analyzed so that your dentist knows exactly what the inside of your teeth look like on the day of your procedure, a local anesthetic will be applied near the infected tooth. This anesthetic will help to prevent significant discomfort during the procedure. Then, a rubber dam will be placed around the tooth to ensure that the dentist has access to a dry area in which to work. They will then drill into your tooth so that they can remove tooth debris, infected pulp, and decayed nerve tissue. Your tooth will then either be sealed or temporarily filled so that it can be sealed at a future point in time. You may have some discomfort for a few hours following the procedure and will need to delay eating for a time, but these are all the restrictions that you’re likely to face.