Quite a number of people still believe that a root canal treatment causes pain or is a painful procedure in itself. This belief is a result of misconceptions and wrong notions about the treatment. Popularly known as simply a “root canal”, the purpose of this treatment is actually to relieve the patient of pain by removing the root of the cause – the infected tooth pulp. When skillfully done, the patient gets pain relief, saves his tooth from extraction and prevents himself from having more costly and complex dental procedures in the future. Root canal treatment revitalizes an infected tooth and keeps it strong and functional for many years to come.
What Happens During a Root Canal Treatment?
1st Step
The dentist numbs the infected tooth with dental anesthesia, so you will feel no pain during the entire root canal treatment. However, even with advances in dentistry, there remains a number of patients who are scared of having the procedure. For patients who have gag reflexes or who experience severe dental anxiety, sedation dentistry may be recommended.
2nd Step
The dentist removes the infected pulp from within your tooth with the use of a dental drill and other tools. The inner chambers of the tooth are rid of bacteria and cleaned thoroughly.
3rd Step
A dental filling will be placed to seal the tooth from bacteria. If a dental crown is necessary, the dentist takes the patients dental impression. This model of your teeth will be used to custom-create your dental crown. You will be asked to schedule another office visit for your actual crown placement. During this time, the dentist will provide you with a temporary crown for function and aesthetics.
4th Step
The dentist places the dental crown on your endodontically-treated tooth. This essentially marks the end of your treatment. You now have a tooth that’s very strong, healthy and will no longer cause you pain.
What Happens after Root Canal Treatment?
At Village Family Dental, we instruct endontically-treated patients to take things slowly for the first few hours. The gums and lips may still be numb, so it’s important to refrain from eating so you won’t accidentally bite your lips. When the anesthetic wears off, you can start with soft foods like eggs, soup, pudding, etc. You can resume eating normally the next day after your treatment.
Dr. Rearden may prescribe medicines for pain, which typically lasts a few hours after the procedure. He may also schedule you for a follow-up visit. In addition, you will be advised to visit your dentist every six months, so he can periodically check on your teeth and existing dental restorations. Good oral hygiene maintenance and periodic dental visits are essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Visit us at Village Family Dental, for your Root Canal Treatment
Dr. Rearden and our team are well trained and experienced dental professionals for root canal treatment, cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, and general dentistry. A root canal treatment may be necessary if your tooth is decayed and infected, yet still has healthy tooth roots. Come and see us for concerns on endodontics. You may request an appointment online, or call us at (843) 215-2599
(843) 215-2599.
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