Decay can eventually impact the inside of a tooth, causing an infection of the pulp and live tissues. When that happens, you may experience symptoms like an abscess in gums, sensitivity, and extreme toothaches. The best option to save your natural teeth is root canal therapy (RCT). Unfortunately, people have weird ideas about the procedure. You don’t need to worry about complications as long as you choose an experienced dentist in the Newtonbrook West area of North York. In this post, we have debunked some common myths about RCT.
1 – RCT is extremely painful
Probably, this is the most common myth about root canal therapy. However, the procedure is not painful at all, as the dentist will rely on local anesthesia and will not start until the effects set in. In fact, the inflamed tooth pulp can cause much more severe toothaches than you know. Also, RCT is a much simpler procedure with new-age advancements.
2 – Extracting the tooth is better
Many people also assume that getting an infected tooth removed is the best way to avoid the complicated symptoms, which is not true. Once a tooth is extracted, the adjacent teeth will try to shift to cover the gap, which can lead to additional problems. Also, losing one or more of your teeth will affect your ability to chew and enjoy your food. Root canal therapy is way better and can help preserve your natural teeth.
3 – The procedure is time-consuming
Again, this is not true. RCT can be completed in just one visit at many dental clinics. However, many dentists prefer to divide the treatment into two to three appointments to ensure the patient doesn’t feel any discomfort or need to sit with the mouth open for a long time. Also, with rotary instruments and advanced imaging options, RCT can be planned efficiently.
Going for root canal therapy
During your first appointment, your dentist will take X-rays to determine the structure of the infected tooth and the extent of the infection. Following this, they will use local anesthesia to numb the tooth and gums surrounding it. Once the effects set in, they will drill an access opening and clean the entire tooth from the inside using dental files. This step is critical to removing the pulp, bacterial growth, and tissues. They will then clean the tooth and seal it permanently. You will need a crown after root canal therapy to restore the full function of the treated tooth.
Call your dentist in the Newtonbrook West area now!
