There is absolutely no reason anymore to put off going to the dentist, even if you need an invasive procedure done such as a root canal. In fact, according to Dr. Brad S. Haines of White and Haines Advanced Dentistry in Cornelius, North Carolina, the whole thing can be done fairly painlessly, and sometimes can be accomplished in just one visit.
Most root canal therapy in the modern day can be painless. It does not have to be such a dreaded thing as it was in the past, and there is no reason why someone should put off having this necessary work done because he is scared it will be too painful.
Feeling of Numbness
We use a local anesthetic to numb the tooth. In fact, there are a few techniques we use to make sure the tooth is numb, or asleep. Then the dentist will gently remove the nerve from inside the tooth root, and we will then gently shape the canals inside the tooth to remove all bacteria and necrotic tissue. Then the cleaned-out tooth root will be filled with a material that will seal the root and prevent bacteria from residing there.
The whole procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the number of roots and nerves in the tooth, and the difficulty in getting to the ends of the roots to take the nerve out. Usually root canals these days only take one visit to the dentist. It can be two visits if a large abscess is draining or a lot of bleeding. And in those cases, sometimes we will temporarily put a filling in that tooth and not seal the roots until antibiotics have time to lower the abscess.
Conscious Sedation
If someone is really worried about having a root canal done, then we offer conscious oral sedation at our Cornelius office which relaxes the patient and makes him feel comfortable from beginning to end. By simply taking a sedative prior to your appointment, you will enter a state of complete relaxation, enabling us to complete, in some cases, years of needed dental work in just one single appointment.
You will be conscientiously monitored throughout your stay and will have little memory of what transpired. It’s a safe and effective solution for fearful patients. Be sure to have a family member drive you to and from your appointment.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
