Root canal therapy is a procedure dentists recommend to treat a pulp which has become infected. The pulp refers to the center of the tooth made up of tissue and cells. Pulp infection can be a result of a variety of dental conditions such as abscesses or cracked teeth.
In order to treat the infected pulp, your dentist may recommend root canal therapy.
The odds are good that the stories you’ve heard about getting root canal therapy didn’t leave you with a very positive impression of the treatment. Many patients shudder at the thought of receiving the procedure, regarding pain and costs. The truth is, root canal therapy is a necessary treatment in saving the tooth from serious and more painful damage in the long term, and overall, a much less scary procedure than you think.
Many of the myths revolving around root canal therapy are dated. Thanks to modern anesthetics, root canal therapy is much more comfortable and no more painful than getting a filling.
Root Canal Therapy is Straightforward
1. Your dentist will apply a local anesthetic to the area; this ensures you’re as comfortable as possible during the procedure. Once the area is numb, the dentist will apply a dam to the afflicted tooth to keep it isolated, clean, and dry.
2. Your dentist will then drill a small hole to access and remove the infected pulp within the tooth.
3. The now disinfected areas of the tooth are filled with a natural rubber material called gutta-percha. Then, a temporary filling.
4. A few weeks later, your dentist will replace the temporary filling with a permanent crown.
There is Usually Minimal Post-Procedure Pain
Many patients are also afraid of pain after the procedure. In most cases, an over the counter pain-reliever like Advil or Ibuprofen will address post-procedure discomfort and more often than not, people are able to return to their busy lives the day after root canal therapy.
It’s the Best, Most Cost-Effective Alternative
Although the inside of a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy is now a little different in its composition, it is a healthier tooth and maintains its vital purposes of biting and chewing.
If an afflicted tooth remains infected, the alternative would eventually be complete extraction of the tooth, requiring more costly treatments in the future to replace an extracted tooth with an implant, for example. To put it into perspective, root canal therapy typically costs a few hundred dollars, while tooth extraction/placing an implant will cost you thousands.
If you’re experiencing tooth pain, it may be time to see your dentist. Call the office of Dr. Brian Hokanson, DDS and make an appointment with us today!