There are few phrases that invoke as
much fear and anxiety as these words from your dentist, “you need a root canal.” Where does this anxiety come from? In his state of the union address, President
Obama said of the bail out, “I hated it.
You hated it. It was as popular
as a root canal.” Clearly, root canals are not very
popular. The endodontist, a dentist who
has two years of residency training in, among other things, performing root
canal therapy, should be the least popular of all dentists. Yet if you have an all-consuming, head
splitting toothache, the endodontist is the first person you want to and should
see. An endodontist, with their advanced
training, can relieve you of your toothache in one appointment. In this way, it would be better to understand
endodontists as specialists in treating and preventing toothaches.
Inside of every tooth is tissue,
called the dental pulp that helps the tooth grow and develop when the tooth is
young. If the pulp comes in contact with
bacteria through deep decay, a restoration, or a fracture, it can become
damaged. In this way, toothaches are
caused by inflammation or infection in the internal tooth, pulp, or surrounding
bone. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory
medications will help control the symptoms but cannot resolve the problem. Root canal therapy, so named because the
treatment takes place within the tiny roots of the tooth, is a procedure for
cleaning and disinfecting the internal tooth structure. Think of it like having a very small filling
deep in the tooth, so small that endodontists work with special instruments that
are as small as a hair's width in diameter and a microscope to help with
vision. Typical treatment time depends
on the complexity of the case and the number of roots within the tooth. Your visit can be anywhere from half-hour to
two hours with longer treatments often divided into two separate visits for
your comfort. In many respects, the
experience will be indiscernible from having a filling.
Sometimes root canal therapy is
indicated as a means to prevent an infection and toothache, which is why your
dentist or endodontist may recommend root canal therapy on a tooth that has
never caused any problems before. He or
she is only looking out for your best interest, saving you from future
discomfort and infection. Any time a
tooth can be treated prior to infection, the procedure itself will be more
predictable and easier on you, the patient.
Root canal therapy is a comfortable
procedure. The treatment itself is
performed under local anesthesia and there is no associated feeling. When it is over, you can often return to work
or to enjoying your day. When people
wince at the thought of a past root canal or describe a past experience, they
are either referring to the toothache that caused them to need treatment, or
were not under the care of a specialist who has advanced training, tools, and techniques. Sedation is offered in some offices, but it
is not needed in the vast majority of cases.
Patients, much to their own disbelief, very often fall asleep on their
own during the procedure.
If you are referred to an
endodontist for root canal therapy, there is nothing to fear. Your endodontist should make every effort to
answer your questions and make the process as relaxing and comfortable as
possible for you. If you have a
toothache and are referred to an endodontist, know that you have already been
through the worst part, you are heading to the right place, and treatment will
have you feeling better quickly, often as soon as your endodontist numbs the
area.
If you need additional information
or have questions, this article was contributed to the Right Smile Center by
Dr. Justin M. Parente of Alpharetta Endodontics, www.alpharettaendo.com
(770-772-3002). Dr. Parente received his
DMD and post graduate Endodontic specialty training at Medical College of
Georgia and is a member of the American Association of Endodontists.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
404-256-3620
www.rightsmilecenter.com
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