Root Canal Pain

With advances in dental technology, receiving root canal therapy at Heritage Dentistry treatment is not the torturous event that it used to be! Root canal therapy treatment is a great way to restore the health of an infected tooth and can even save a tooth that may otherwise require extraction. A toothache or other severe sensitivity will not go away on its own so it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the tooth.

 

What causes tooth pain?

Tooth decay can lead to severe sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures and sugars in food and beverages. Left untreated, tooth decay can grow deeper into the tooth and get into the pulp of the tooth which is where the blood supply and nerves for the tooth are housed. Infection in tooth pulp can be very painful and the only way to relieve pain may be root canal therapy.

 

Root canal therapy treatment is performed by an endodontist, a dental specialist. A root canal is a procedure to get you out of pain and the root canal itself is not very painful. You may experience a little pinch when the local anesthetic is administered but once the tooth is sufficiently numb, you will not feel anything during the rest of the procedure.

 

You may experience a little discomfort for a few days following the procedure but that will subside as a tooth and the tissue around the to calm down. After a week or two, you can have the tooth permanently restored by your dentist.

 

Is it better to have a tooth extracted and to have a root canal?

Your dentist wants you to keep as many of your natural teeth and as much tooth structure as possible so a root canal is better than having the tooth extracted. Sometimes, a tooth is not able to be restored and will need to be extracted but that is usually a last resort.

 

Having an unnecessary tooth extraction can lead to other issues. When a tooth is missing, surrounding teeth shift in an effort to fill the empty space. As the teeth shift, they can actually become loose and your jawbone structure can begin to deteriorate. To avoid this, your dentist messages that you have either a dental implant placed or a dental bridge.

 

Root canal therapy treatment is much less stressful to your overall health. There is very little recovery time rise and extraction and implant place and it has extensive recovery time. After a root canal, you can immediately go about your day just being careful while eating and drinking. your dentist will be able to place a permanent restoration on the treated tooth which will enable you to resume your regular dietary habits.

 

Having a root canal is an invasive procedure but it is much less so than an extraction and implant. A tooth treated with root canal therapy can last a lifetime with proper oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist for professional cleanings and checkups. A tooth that was previously treated with root canal therapy can still develop decay but your dentist will be able to identify any problems and treat them before they cause any further damage.

 

More on Root Canals : How Long Does a Root Canal Take?