What Can I Expect During My Root Canal?
A root canal is a common procedure that a local dental practice can perform to treat the infected roots of any affected teeth. The root canal removes any infection, so the tooth won’t cause pain and can heal with the help of a crown. According to East Carolina University, dentists in the United States annually do about 15 million root canals. If you have a root canal in your future, here’s what to expect during the procedure.
The Dentist Numbs the Tooth
Your dentist will have to numb your tooth with a numbing agent. The dentist will use a hypodermic needle to apply the numbing agent, but the discomfort will be minimal and eliminate any pain the root canal otherwise would cause. The dentist will wait a few minutes for your teeth to become fully numb and can probe your gums to ensure you feel nothing before starting the root canal.
A Small Hole Is Drilled
Once you’re comfortably numb, the dental practice will drill a very small hole to gain access to the root canals. Some teeth have just one root canal, while others might have two or more. The more canals the tooth has, the more work is required to complete the root canal. Once the holes are drilled and your dentist confirms access to the affected root canals, it’s time to clean them out.
Tiny Files Remove Infection and Reshape the Canals
Your dentist will use a series of tiny files to clean all infection out of the root canals. The procedure is relatively quick and makes it possible for the tooth and affected gums to start healing. It also eliminates any pain that you felt prior to the root canal, so you can chew normally and enjoy hot or cold foods, like coffee or ice cream, without enduring pain. With the root canals cleaned out, your dentist can reshape them with the files and prepare to seal your tooth.
A Crown Seals the Canals and Tooth
Once the root canal is completed, the tooth needs to be sealed to prevent contamination while it heals. Your dentist will use a biocompatible material to seal it until your next dental visit, which will allow the tooth to heal. If the tooth isn’t badly affected, it might be possible to apply a crown right away and complete the procedure in one sitting.
Are you in need of dental services? Contact Hudson Family Dental today to learn more and schedule a root canal procedure to fix one or more teeth. We look forward to speaking with you!