You’re chronically indecisive. Sometimes, you feel intense buyer’s remorse, even after hours of research. Now that your dentist is recommending a root canal treatment, you can’t help but wonder if an alternative solution would be better. What if you go through the anxiety-inducing treatment just to regret it later?
First, that’s understandable! With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose, especially when it comes to your health. Second – a root canal treatment might not be as bad as you think. Keep reading to learn why.
Root Canal: Pain or Gain?
In short, root canals almost always result in more gains than pain. Actually, most patients compare their treatment to getting a dental filling. That is to say, not very distressing. To ensure your comfort, your dentist will apply a local anesthetic to the treatment area. You might feel a brief pinch, then mild pressure as your dentist completes the root canal. The process will probably be less painful than any aches your tooth might be causing!
What Does a Root Canal Do?
So you likely won’t have to worry about discomfort, but why do you need a root canal in the first place? This is where those “gains” come into play. A root canal has two purposes: to remove an infection and to prevent further infection.
Inside your tooth, past layers of enamel and dentin, is a squishy center called the “pulp”. When tooth decay or gum disease infiltrates this area, they could damage the nerves and spread to other teeth. To avoid this, the infection must be removed. After your dentist cleans it out, they’ll fill the resulting “canal” with a special material, then seal your tooth to prevent bacteria from slipping in to cause more problems.
Assessing Your Treatment Options
Besides a root canal treatment, you have three other options for dealing with this dental infection. However, you might not be satisfied with the results. Let’s dive into the details:
- Wait for the infection to go away. Unfortunately, your teeth and oral tissue can’t fight off infections the way the rest of your body can. The problem with this option is that tooth decay and gum disease don’t go away on their own.
- Extract the infected tooth. This would get rid of the infection, but could harm your oral health in the long run. Missing teeth often cause the survivors to shift and prompt the jawbone to shrink. Eventually, you could lose your remaining teeth.
- Replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants indeed prevent pearly whites from shifting and can keep your jawbone intact. They are more costly and time-consuming than a root canal, though.
No matter which way you slice it, a root canal treatment is, more often than not, the safest and most effective way of dealing with a dental infection. That’s why dentists tend to recommend this option over alternatives. If you’re still unsure, talk to your dentist. They want you to be as confident as possible in your treatment plan and would gladly consult with you.
About the Practice
Our team at Capron Park Dental wants what’s best for your oral health, but also wants you to feel comfortable and confident with your treatment! You can be rest assured that our experienced dentists will make sure you’re well-informed about your options. If you’d like advice or more information about root canals, give us a call at 508-222-5950 or visit our website to request an appointment online.