Root Canal Treatment: 5 Important Facts to Consider

By Akshay Sharma May 28, 2018 Health

Your dentist says you need root canal treatment and you’re suddenly filled with fear! What is root canal treatment and what does it involve?

This dental procedure is usually required when the soft tissue beneath the harder, outer layers of the tooth become infected and inflamed.

Bacteria can enter the soft tissue if there are cracks in the tooth or if the tooth has decay that has progressed deep into the various layers of the tooth. The resulting infection may cause intense pain and inflammation.

If no action is taken, the soft tissue infection may get worse and then the only other alternative may be a complete tooth extraction.

So, you’ve decided to opt for the procedure. Here are 5 things to set your mind at ease:

Root canal treatment is painless

The procedure is essentially pain-free and with almost zero discomfort.

With all the advancements made in the dental field, patients can expect a very comfortable experience.

Only the best local anaesthetics are used to numb the affected area, and your well- trained and experienced dentist will easily remove all infected material from the tooth and restore your tooth “as good as new”.

You may be prescribed some mild painkillers to keep you comfortable in the days following the procedure.

It is a quick and easy procedure

People often think that complete tooth extractions are faster and cheaper. However, they do not factor in the high costs of dental implants and the subsequent dental appointments for fitting of the implants, which will be required if the tooth is completely extracted.

On the other hand, root canal treatment only requires between 1-3 dental appointments depending on the extent of the damage to the tooth.

Root canal treatment does not destroy the tooth

Contrary to popular belief, root canal treatment does not “kill off” the tooth. Instead the infected tissue is carefully removed, and the interior gently disinfected to completely ensure all the bacteria is removed. This allows the tooth to heal completely- free of infection, inflammation and pain.

It has a high success rate

Root canal treatment has a 95% success rate according to the American Association of Endodontists. An endodontist is a dentist who specialises in performing root canal treatments.

The long term positive effects of a successful root canal treatment will continue for a lifetime provided you maintain proper oral hygiene. The treated tooth will then not require any future dental intervention.

It is a safe procedure

Years ago, before there was any extensive research on root canal treatment, people believed this procedure made the body more vulnerable to various infections and ailments. This flawed belief had no valid scientific basis and was quickly disproved.

In fact, the essence of the procedure is to remove the infection and sanitize the inside of the tooth so that there is no chance of reinfection. The tooth is able to heal, and full function is restored to that tooth.

Now that you are armed with the facts, feel free to contact your highly trained and experienced dentist for the procedure that will have you eating and drinking again without any pain or discomfort.

Author bio:
Dr. Nabil Mockbil received his DDS in 2001 from Umea University in Sweden, regarded as having the best dentist programme in Sweden for undergraduates. He’s now the founder of Swedish Dental Clinic in Dubai