Basic Root Canal Questions And Answers For Dental Patients

Dentist Blog

A root canal is a fairly routine procedure for people to need to undergo. Yet, it is also common for individuals to feel stressed about this procedure when they learn that they will need to undergo it. Often, this unwarranted stress is due to a lack of clear information about root canals.

Will A Tooth That Needs A Root Canal Always Be A Source Of Pain?

You might be surprised to learn that you will need to undergo a root canal procedure. Patients are often under the assumption that a root canal is only needed when a tooth is causing intense pain. However, it can be possible for serious tooth problems to result in the death of the nerve. This can cause you to lose your sense of feeling in the tooth, which can prevent you from noticing any pain.

How Can A Root Canal Save Your Tooth?

A root canal is done in order to save a tooth that has become infected. While the infection may not impact the hard enamel of the tooth, it can cause severe damage to the soft tissue on the interior of the tooth. During a root canal, your dentist will make a small hole in the tooth so that all of the infected tissue can be removed. By eliminating this tissue, the dentist can stop the infection from completely destroying the tooth or spreading to other areas in the mouth.

What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Undergoing A Root Canal?

For most patients, there will be a few noticeable long-term impacts from undergoing a root canal. At the end of the procedure, a protective crown is placed over the tooth, and this will require very little maintenance or care outside of cleaning and brushing it. Eventually, the crown will need to be replaced, but this should not be for many years. Depending on the type of damage that was done to the tooth, you may also notice some slight sensitivity to hot or cold drinks. The crown that is placed over the tooth will not be as effective as enamel at insulating the nerve from these temperatures, and that can lead to this slight sensitivity.

How Long Is The Recovery From Undergoing A Root Canal?

Patients might think that they will need a lengthy recovery from their root canal procedure. However, this procedure will cause about as much discomfort as getting a filling. Outside of feeling a little sore when the anesthetic wears off, patients should be able to resume their normal schedule almost immediately.

To learn more, get in touch with a professional like Webster John B DDS.

Share

21 September 2018

Loving Your Smile

Do you remember the last time you looked at your smile and really loved what you saw? A few years ago I started spending more time analyzing my appearance, and I noticed that my teeth were seriously lacking. I knew that I had to do something to improve the situation, so I began focusing on loving my smile by getting some work done. I started talking with a dentist about how he could help, and it was really incredible to see the simple difference that he was able to make. Within a few years, my smile looked and felt completely different, and I was really pleased with the results. Check out this blog for great information on making your smile more beautiful.