Root Canal Therapy
Pain Relief You Can Count On
For most people, they believe that the absolute worst thing their dentist can tell them is “you need a root canal.” In reality, this procedure is safe, effective, and one of the best tools we have for repairing extremely damaged teeth and saving them from extraction. If you have a particularly bad toothache, a root canal may be exactly what you need to finally be free from dental pain. We promise that the procedure is nothing like what you’ve seen in movies or on TV!
Why Choose East Islip Dental Care for Root Canal Therapy?
- Patient comfort comes first
- Experienced & dedicated dental team
- Kind & friendly team that treats patients like family
Why Do I Need A Root Canal?
Your teeth contain several layers: the outer protective enamel, a secondary layer of sensitive dentin, and an inner pulp that contains components commonly referred to as the “nerve” of the tooth. Each pulp chamber branches off, forming canals that lead toward the tooth root tip. These infamous root canals provide a means for the tooth to absorb what it needs from the blood and get rid of toxins or other unnecessary materials via the blood stream. A deep cavity, traumatic injury, or tooth fracture can make the canal susceptible to bacterial infection, which can kill the pulp, stimulate increased blood flow, and create pressure within the tooth. This can cause severe tooth pain and may initiate bone degeneration, tooth loss, and even more acute pain. If you see a dentist in the earliest stages of this condition, the tooth may be saved with a root canal. Otherwise, it should be extracted and replaced with a prosthetic.
How Does Root Canal Therapy Work?
Will root canal therapy hurt? Not with today's advanced analgesics and technology. In fact, the entire process can be so comfortable that many patients doze off. Oftentimes, root canal therapy can be completed in a single appointment. We simply clean out the diseased canal, fill it with a biologically inert substance, seal it from further infection, and you're on your way. While some patients experience post-procedural soreness or slight tissue inflammation, these are controllable with over-the-counter analgesics. Follow-up care involves thorough home hygiene and regular dental visits for cleanings and checkups.
Root Canal Therapy FAQs
When it comes to pain relief you can count on, there’s often no better choice than root canal therapy. However, this common tooth-saving procedure has plenty of myths surrounding it, so it’s natural to have a few questions about it. We want you to feel confident and well-informed about any treatment you get here at East Islip Dental Care, so we’ve complied a list of some of the most common questions we get about root canal therapy below. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll be more than happy to help!
Does Getting a Root Canal Hurt?
The big question on everyone’s mind is how much pain to expect with a root canal. Despite their horrible reputation, root canal therapy should not feel painful at all. We use plenty of reliable local anesthetic to completely numb your mouth. Plus, you’ll likely also be sedated, which will reduce any feelings of discomfort as well as ease anxiety. Most patients are please to find that root canal therapy is no more painful than getting a large filling!
What Should I Do Before Root Canal Therapy?
It will typically take a day or so to recover from root canal therapy, so it’s best to do a little preparation ahead of time. Stock your pantry and fridge with some soft, nutritious foods like mashed potatoes, soups, applesauce, and ice cream. You should also make sure that you have some over-the-counter pain relievers like Ibuprofen on hand. Depending on your unique circumstances, we’ll give you any specific instructions you need to follow ahead of time.
How Long Can I Put Off Getting a Root Canal?
No one wants to hear that they need a root canal, but it’s better to get one sooner rather than later. We don’t recommend root canal therapy lightly, and in many cases it’s the last viable option before the tooth needs to be extracted. If you wait too long, we may not be able to save the tooth with root canal therapy and will need to extract it instead. By then, the infection may have spread to the surrounding teeth or even other parts of your mouth. Root canal therapy can typically be completed in one 30-90 minute appointment (which can fly by with dental sedation) so there’s no need to put your health at risk by putting your treatment off!
Why Do I Need a Root Canal If My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt?
Throbbing, intense tooth pain is often the most common sign that root canal therapy is needed, but it isn’t a must-have. You may need root canal therapy even if your tooth doesn’t hurt! In these cases, it’s likely that the damage or infection irreparably injured the nerve of your tooth, so it’s no longer sending pain signals to your brain. However, the problem is still there and needs to be addressed before it can cause more problems! If your toothache suddenly goes away, it’s likely that you will still need root canal therapy, perhaps more urgently than previously thought!