What you Should Know about Your Root Canal

Having a root canal as part of your recommended treatment plan can be intimidating, or leave you with more questions than answers about treatment. It is our goal to keep our patients informed so that they feel comfortable about the care we recommend to keep their smiles healthy. If you are in need of a root canal, we help you better understand your procedure answering some common patient questions:

Do Root Canals Hurt? Root canals have something of an unfair reputation in patient experience. With proper anesthetic and gentle care, a root canal doesn’t feel much different than getting a standard filling. What many patients fail to recognize is that, at the point when a root canal is needed, the nerves inside the affected tooth are dead, so treating inner root systems of teeth does not irritate live nerves. Tooth infections can also be painful, but root canals help relieve that discomfort. In effect, a root canal actually helps to relieve pain and is not as uncomfortable as many patients imagine.

Why Do I Need a Root Canal? Generally speaking, a root canal is needed if bacteria have been allowed to affect tooth pulp by entering the root systems of teeth. This can happen when a tooth is severely decayed or when a deep crack has exposed the pulp. By utilizing root canal therapy, patients get to keep their own teeth.

If I Get a Dental Crown, Am I More Likely to Need a Root Canal? When applied correctly, with margins around the treated tooth being properly sealed, crowned teeth should not require a root canal. However, if the crown has not been sealed correctly, there is a chance for bacteria to access the prepared tooth under the crown, and for a root canal to later be necessary.

If I get a Root Canal with an Old Crown, Do I have to Replace the Crown? If the crown isn’t properly sealing out bacteria, then a new crown will need to be created and applied to better protect your tooth. If the issue is bacteria in inner tooth systems, as opposed to margin problems, the inner systems of teeth can be accessed through your existing crown, to preserve your crown and treat your tooth. The access point through your existing crown is then sealed with composite resin. Diagnostics help in determining which approach is best. Our office first assess existing tooth structure under the old crown to determine if there is enough left to cap again and what’s causing the need for a root canal before deciding to provide an whole new crown.

Why Get a Root Canal if I can Have the Tooth Replaced? Keeping your natural teeth is always important, whenever possible. If the root systems of teeth can be cleaned and the top portion of your tooth can be protected with a dental crown, this is the best choice for a conservative treatment plan. Extracting teeth can lead to bone resorption, shifting of existing teeth, and create the need for more costly restorations.

Talk to our Office about your Root Canal

If you have more questions about your upcoming root canal appointment or if you believe you may have an infected tooth that requires a root canal, contact our North Canton dental office to speak to a member of our team.