Cavities

Of all dental procedures, a root canal is probably one more dreaded by patients than any other, because practically everyone has heard some nightmare story about them.  Remarkably, though, with proper diagnosis and management, the need for root canals can largely be avoided, and in cases where they are needed, they are virtually never painful, either during or after the procedure!  There is so much misinformation out there, though, that it seems appropriate to provide some answers to those Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Toothaches & Root Canals: What is a Root Canal, and Why Might You Need One? There are several possible reasons you might need a root canal, including: A large cavity that reaches the nerve, resulting in pulpal infection Part of the tooth breaks due to trauma The tooth cracks due to grinding or clenching your teeth Tooth resorption Essentially, what happens during a root canal is that we remove the infected, painful nerve tissue from inside the tooth, clean the area with several disinfecting solutions, which also help remove debris, then seal the inside of the roots with a cement and a special form of rubber called gutta percha.  There are several variations on the technique and sealers, but they all do the same basic thing. Does a Root Canal Hurt? In the large majority of cases, once the tooth is numbed, the answer is NO, you should NOT experience pain during the procedure.  If you do, please signal your dentist that you are still feeling the procedure. Sometimes, a tooth is so badly infected that your face may swell up.  In these cases, the infection is severe enough that it will decrease the numbing's effectiveness, and you may just need [...]