When you think about getting a root canal, one of the first things that come to mind may be pain. You may have heard of stories about the pain that is often associated with it. However, this may not always be the case. The fear of root canal procedures may be unfounded.
If a patient has an infected tooth, then a root canal may be the only way of saving it. A tooth has pulp under the enamel and layer of dentin. The pulp has nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. The pulp helps the tooth during development. However, once the tooth has finished growing, it can survive without the pulp because the surrounding tissues nourish it.
If the pulp becomes damaged or infected, however, a patient will experience pain. The nerve sends pain signals to the brain when the pulp is infected. During a root canal procedure, the endodontist will remove the infected pulp and clean the interior of the tooth. This will prevent bacteria from spreading. Then the endodontist will fill the tooth with a filling. A patient will then receive a crown over the tooth to protect it further.
The main thing to understand about root canal treatments is that it is not the cause of pain for patients. The American Association of Endodontists states that root canals are intended to relieve tooth pain. A root canal treatment is not designed to cause pain. In fact, there are many advances in surgical techniques and anesthesia today. This means that an endodontist can easily relieve a patient’s discomfort.
Usually, the discomfort will be no greater than when a patient has a tooth filled. However, that is not to say that patients will not experience pain. This pain usually comes from infected, damaged tissue in the tooth. Once the endodontist removes the problematic tissue and cleans the tooth, the infection stops and this removes the source of the pain.
A patient may experience mild soreness in the tooth and its surrounding area after the root canal procedure. An endodontist may prescribe pain relievers to reduce the symptoms. This allows a patient to get back to their daily responsibilities almost immediately.
A patient may be wondering if it is just better to pull the tooth instead of spending time on a root canal procedure. However, many dentists agree that it is always preferable to keep a natural tooth instead of removing it. A root canal is one of several methods that is used to preserve a tooth. A tooth extraction will cause more stress on the body than simply removing the pulp.
Now you know the truth about pain in a root canal procedure. If you are experiencing tooth discomfort, then do not hesitate to visit an endodontist. A root canal procedure has a high rate of success. This can help you keep the tooth for the rest of your life.
Request an appointment here: https://santarosaendodontics.com or call Santa Rosa Endodontics at (707) 706-2143 for an appointment in our Santa Rosa office.
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