What You Need to Know Before Your First Root Canal
When you get the news you need a root canal, your initial reaction might be to panic. Root canals can be great to restore the health of your teeth, but chances are you are not keen on having the procedure done. Thankfully, root canals are not as terrible as you might believe. Here are some things you should know before your first root canal:
You Should Not Experience Much Pain
A properly performed root canal should not hurt at all during the procedure. The point of a root canal is to eliminate the pain you have with a tooth. Fortunately, modern advancements in oral care technology have greatly reduced most of the discomfort often experienced in former root canal procedures. There are new tools and anesthetic options to help you feel as comfortable as possible. After getting a root canal done, you may experience some soreness, but nothing that cannot be controlled by over-the-counter pain relievers.
You Should Not Need an Extraction
Chances are you have heard from friends or family members who have had root canals that they ultimately lost the tooth after the procedure. You should feel confident that extractions of the tooth are not as common as you may believe. When a root canal procedure is done correctly, and there are no unknown issues, you will most likely have a positive result with a restored tooth.
You Should Only Need a Single Appointment
Once you know you need a root canal, you should not need more than one appointment for the procedure. You may only need more than one appointment if your tooth is in serious disrepair or you have several teeth that need root canals. If you only need one root canal, however, it is likely that you only have to visit the dental office once after your initial consultation.
You Will Not Get Sick from Your Root Canal
You may have heard old stories of people getting sick after getting their root canal. These stories are due to outdated research that have since been debunked. There is no modern evidence that supports any illness caused by root canals. In fact, a root canal may even help prevent further infections. The goal of a root canal is to remove decayed and potentially infected tooth material that could leach into your bloodstream and make you sick. A root canal cleans out all the bad tissue and leaves you with a clean slate. This procedure is one of the best options when you want to save a tooth and want to remove any future infection and pain.
For more information about getting a root canal done, talk to a local dentist, such as Laveen Smiles, to learn more.