When it comes to the world of dental treatment, few procedures are as undesired by patients as endodontics.
While this area has helped to restore smiles, save the need for dental extraction and has prevented painful infections from spreading, very few patients are happy for their dental team to perform endodontic surgery.
At this point, it might be pivotal to mention that the more commonly known name for endodontics is a root canal! So, why are so few patients happy to have root canals performed? It seems to be linked to a general lack of information; there are a fair few myths surrounding endodontics, creating a shadow over this area of dentistry.
At Yealmpton Dental Practice, root canals are our speciality! Our specialist dentist Devon knows everything there is to know about endodontics and can assure you that when you come to us, you are in safe hands.
Still not convinced? To help dispel some of those stubborn mistruths about endodontics, our specialist dentist Devon has answered the following commonly asked questions about root canals to reassure you.
Are root canals similar to fillings?
In some ways, yes, root canals are similar to fillings.
Except they go a bit deeper into the tooth! Our specialist dentist Devon will need to drill a small hole into your tooth and go down into the pulp of your tooth. Once there, they will gently remove any infected debris from around the pulp; once completed, they will ‘fill’ the area around the pulp and the drill site with a packing material to prevent reinfection.
Why would I need a root canal?
Root canals are required if you have had an infection in one of your teeth, or if you have had a facial trauma which has led to the tooth becoming significantly damaged. Occasionally, our team may decide to offer a root canal to patients who have extreme sensitivity, but this is only considered if all other options to treat the sensitivity have failed.
Do they hurt?
No, they don’t; if you are suffering from a dental infection or sensitivity, a root canal will alleviate any discomfort you have.
During the process of fitting the root canal, our team will always ensure that your jaw is numbed, so there won’t be any discomfort. Post fitting, there may be a feeling similar to bruising, but this will fade.
Does a root canal kill the tooth?
There is a myth that root canals kill the tooth they are performed on.
However, this is not true as root canals simply clean the inside of the tooth and fill it. They do not touch the nerve, and so the tooth does not die or become discoloured.
What are the alternatives to a root canal?
There is only one other option if you do not wish to undertake endodontic treatment, and this is a full extraction of the damaged or infected tooth.
Depending on where the infected tooth is located in your mouth, this may have an obvious and extreme cosmetic downside.