Unlike the popular movie trope, a root canal will not make you scream in pain. We perform root canals every day, and our patients never feel a thing during the procedure. The truth is that root canal therapy eliminates pain, and usually right away.
Let’s talk about Root Canal Therapy
Why would your dentist recommend a root canal?
We will perform a root canal when the soft tissue inside the tooth root (we call that the pulp) becomes inflamed or infected. This can happen because of:
Did you know?: An injury to a tooth can damage the nerve tissue inside the root canal even if the tooth has no visible signs of trauma.
Why you should always follow your dentist’s advice when they recommend a root canal
If you do not get pulp inflammation or infection treated as soon as possible, it can lead to an abscess — a serious infection that usually hurts a lot. Not only is an abscess painful, but it is potentially very dangerous. An abscess is full of harmful bacteria and other gross stuff. The bacteria can easily spread to other parts of your mouth. It can also get into your bloodstream and travel throughout your body. This can cause all kinds of health problems, including an infection in your heart called endocarditis.
A Root Canal can save your tooth
When we recommend a root canal, our only goal is improving oral and overall health. Getting a root canal when recommended will help you keep your tooth intact and eliminate pain so you can continue eating the foods you love. It will also stop an infection from spreading and causing more damage to your smile.
Expert Advice: Never ignore tooth pain
Persistent pain in any part of your mouth is usually a sign of trouble. You could have a cavity, other tooth damage, or an infection. You can’t know the cause of the pain unless you see us for an examination.
