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.
What is a root canal?
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.
What causes pain?
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.
Pulling the tooth
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.
Visit an endodontist today
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: http://www.sheats-endo-nashville.com or call Sheats Endodontic Group at (615) 526-2495 for an appointment in our Nashville office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Google: Read our Google reviews.
Recent Posts
Regardless of the severity, a cracked tooth requires immediate professional treatment. While minor cracks may only need treatment options like dental bonding, tooth extraction is necessary for severely damaged teeth. However, an endodontist can consider various options that other professionals may not offer. An endodontist usually treats cracked teeth that are too damaged for minor…
An endodontist is the right dentist to see when you have tooth pain. This person focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infections. A root canal is the most common procedure that endodontists perform to repair and save teeth. It is helpful to understand the background of these dentists. Their training helps them to…
In many cases, root canal recovery is even simpler than the procedure itself. Patients who are nervous about their upcoming procedure have nothing to fear, as they will be able to return to their normal lives afterward. A root canal is an essential procedure that entails saving a patient’s tooth and keeping it functional over…
A broken tooth is typically something that you will want to have addressed immediately. While not every break in a tooth is considered an emergency, most of the time, it is ideal to take action as soon as possible. The type of break in the tooth will likely determine the necessary action. However, in order…