A Special Month For Dental Health
Did we recommend a root canal during your last visit to our office and you have been hesitant to schedule your appointment? There is no better time to schedule your visit than today! This month, we celebrate Root Canal Awareness Month. This time is dedicated to bring awareness to this tooth-saving treatment that is often thought of negatively thanks in part to movies and television. We know it can be a little nerve-racking to learn you need a root canal. We want to take some time this month to explain more about this treatment and the benefit it offers to your oral health. Read on to learn more.
What is a Root Canal?
If a dental treatment could become a superhero, it would be a root canal. This treatment is the final step in saving your natural tooth before an extraction is needed. When tooth decay remains untreated for an extended period of time, it continues to move through the various layers of the tooth until it reaches the inside of the tooth, known as the pulp. A root canal is needed when the pulp becomes infected. The process involves removing the bacteria and infection, cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tooth, and is completed when the tooth is filled and sealed. Many patients will require a dental crown to be placed following treatment.
Is Recovery Difficult?
Root canal treatments have gotten a bad rap over the years, and patients make the treatment out to be something it is not. Due to the advancements in treatment procedures as well as technology, a root canal can be compared to the treatment for a filling. The process is more involved, but the idea is similar. Recovery is not difficult for the majority of patients. We recommend not eating or drinking until the numbness wears off. We would also advise cleaning the treatment area carefully and avoid chewing on the treatment side until healed.
Please don’t postpone a recommended root canal treatment. As mentioned above, the next step for your tooth is an extraction. Also, if you have a tooth that is causing you discomfort, be sure to contact our office located in Terre Haute, IN to schedule an appointment. We want our patients to experience optimal health, and when treatments are delayed and discomfort is ignored, it is impossible to achieve your goals for your oral health.
