Root Canal Considerations

ROOT CANALS

While you’re considering that root canal treatment we proposed, I’d like to go over the benefits of this procedure and why your decision must come soon.

First of all, your comfortable days may be numbered. The damaged nerve has a good chance of becoming infected. As abscess sets in, you’re facing the toothache of your life. Even worse–the tooth will be lost without treatment. Let’s assume you opt to go ahead before pain brings you in for emergency care.

Through an opening in the tooth, we clean inside the root to remove the damaged nerve or pulp. This may take more than one appointment, depending on the curvature of the canal. When we’re satisfied it’s free of debris, we fill the tooth with a natural substance and seal the tooth back up. Your tooth is now “non-vital”-without nerves, but still nourished by surrounding tissues. Finally we cast impressions for a permanent restoration to protect the tooth.

Some people think a root canal is an arduous alternative, physically and economically, to extraction. It’s not. During the procedure, you’ll be numb as you would for any other treatment. And as for your pocketbook, consider the cost of bridgework or a partial denture to replace the lost tooth.

Very truly yours,

F. Nikoo Daftary, D.D.S.

Some people say root canals are painless, while others say they hurt like crazy. What’s the truth?

Since you’re numb when a root canal is performed, you probably won’t feel anything during the procedure. Most people (about 75 percent) experience no discomfort after this procedure. The discomfort experienced by the remaining 25 percent is usually caused by the infection that made the root canal necessary, not by the root canal. You should receive medication to stop the infection and relieve any associated discomfort.

How many office visits will it take to complete a root canal?

It depends on the location of the tooth, the number of root canals in the tooth, and how much infection is present. Root canal therapy generally takes between one and three appointments to complete. Since most root canals require the placement of a crown, you may need one or two more additional visits to have the crown fitted.

Alternatives to a Root Canal

Once the pulp of a tooth has become infected, your choices are limited.

You could choose to delay treatment, you could choose to have the tooth extracted, or you could choose to save your tooth with root canal treatment.

The problem with delaying treatment is that an infected tooth will never heal on its own, and this can lead to some very serious problems. As the infection spreads down the tooth and into your jawbone, the pain may become excruciating. It could even put you in the hospital and threaten your life.

An extraction is only a short-term solution. While it does remove the source of infection, it sets off a chain reaction of shifting teeth and other dental problems.

The only way to save your tooth and keep it in your mouth is to remove the infection with root canal treatment.