Answers To Questions You May Have About Root Canals
Have you been told by your dentist that you're in need of a root canal? Do the mere words "root canal" cause you to shiver with dread? While having dental work performed on your teeth is undoubtedly not fun, you may be surprised to find out that a root canal is not actually as bad as you have been thinking. To help ease your mind, here are the answers to some questions that you may have about the procedure:
Don't root canals hurt? Modern anesthetics and dental practices mean that a root canal is going to be much less painful than it would have been for your parents or grandparents. While the dentist is working on your tooth, you may not even feel more than just a slight discomfort. The worst part of having one done may be that you have to sit with your mouth open for an extended period, something that you'd have to do if you were just having a cavity filled anyway. If you're concerned about pain during the root canal, talk with your dentist about pain relief options. Your dentist honestly does not want to cause you pain and so will be willing to work with you to make sure that you're as comfortable as possible.
What about afterward, doesn't that hurt? A root canal consists of removing infected and damaged nerve and other tissue from the inside of your tooth. Once this tissue is removed, your dentist will fill your tooth with an inert substance that will keep the tooth clean and free of further infection before then sealing the drill hole as with any other cavity. The result is a tooth that is fully functional but that has no feeling. As a result, after the root canal has been performed you may need nothing more than over-the-counter pain medication while your mouth recovers from the root canal.
Is any special care needed afterward? Your dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to help you prevent and recover from any infection that may be present in the tooth. Because the tooth is, in essence, dead after a root canal is performed, you're not going to get the same feedback during eating that you would get from other teeth. A tooth that has had a root canal is much easier to break or shatter without noticing immediately, so your dentist may advise you to be extra careful when eating nuts or other hard foods.
For more information, contact local professionals like Abbott Family Dentistry, LLC.
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