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Root canal treatment may have gained a poor reputation from old movies and TV shows. The goods news is that they are not agonizing like portrayed on the big screen. With modern dental techniques and anesthetics, your root canal shouldn’t feel much different than getting a dental filling. In fact, root canals can prevent you from needing a tooth extraction in the future! Continue reading to learn more about root canals and why you won’t regret yours.
Reason 1: Root Canals Are Not Painful
In modern times, root canal treatment shouldn’t cause you any discomfort. In fact, it can actually relieve that pain that you are feeling due to a badly decayed, infected, or abscessed tooth. Before your procedure begins, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area. This way, you won’t be able to feel a thing! You may experience some soreness for a few days afterward, but this should be mild and temporary. An over-the-counter pain reliever should be enough to reduce any lingering discomfort.
Reason 2: You Are Saving Your Damaged Tooth
Root canals are designed to give the tooth a second chance. They are performed when the soft pulp in the center of the tooth becomes infected, inflamed, disease, or otherwise compromised. This sometimes reaches the nerves of the tooth, resulting in significant pain. Root canal treatment allows your dentist to clear away the infected pulp from the inside of the tooth and seal it with filling material and a restoration, like a dental crown, to prevent future issues.
Reason 3: Tooth Extractions Are No Fun!
No one wants to lose one of their natural teeth. This is only ever done as a last resort if a tooth cannot be saved with a root canal or another treatment. When root canal treatment is put off too long, it may no longer be an option. In this case, a tooth extraction may be necessary to prevent infection from spreading to other areas of the mouth. Your natural teeth are always the best option for biting, chewing speaking, and smiling, so you should try to keep them healthy for as long as you can.
Reason 4: Root Canals Are Cost Effective
While the upfront cost of a root canal is more than the cost of a tooth extraction, in the long one, the former is much more cost effective. If you have a tooth extracted and don’t have it replaced right away, you could run into related oral health issues, like dental drift, bone loss, and further tooth loss. To prevent this, you need to invest in a tooth replacement option, like dental implants or a dental bridge. While these are effective options, they aren’t as valuable as your natural teeth.
You may not be looking forward to your root canal treatment, but in the long run, it is for the best! By going through with your treatment, you can save time, discomfort, and money in the long run.
About the Practice
At Collins St Dental of Arlington, Dr. Prashantkumar Gajera and Dr. Shitalben Patel work together to treat patients in the Arlington area. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about root canal treatment or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (817) 524-6654.