Most people don't love going to the dentist. Furthermore, people generally aren't particularly excited to go get a root canal. The process is definitely more scary and intimidating if you have never had it done. However, in actuality, a root canal is not that much more painful or strenuous then having a normal cavity filled. This article explains the basic process of having a root canal. By understanding what the dentist will be doing to your tooth, you should be able to feel more at ease, especially once the procedure is done.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is necessary when your tooth has decayed to a point that the decay is reaching the nerves in the root. Once the cavity reaches the nerves, serious decay can occur, possibly causing severe tooth pain. However, if your dentist suggests that you need a root canal, but you put having one off, you could end up with an even more severe problems. This is why it is always a good idea to get your root canal done as soon as it is needed. During the procedure, the dentist will remove the nerves from each root in the tooth. The dentist will basically hollow out the entire tooth and then fill it. So, a root canal is basically like a big filling that goes all the way down into the tooth roots.

Sedation or Local Anesthesia

Just like with other dental procedures, many offices offer sedation during root canals. In reality, the pain from a root canal should be no worse than the pain of a normal cavity filling. That is, you should receive a local anesthesia that should make you completely numb in the area being worked on. You should not feel anything during the entire process. That being said, the root-canal procedure takes much longer than a normal cavity filling because the dentist has to bore out the holes in actual roots. You should really only opt for full sedation if you are particularly nervous about dental work. Some people get sedated just because they can't stand the sound and smell of the drill. Before you make this decision, try to find out if the cost will be covered by your insurance company; full sedation is much more costly than local anesthesia.

In the end, you shouldn't be afraid of the root-canal procedure. It might be time-consuming and uncomfortable, but the discomfort you will experience is not even close to the pain you will feel if there is further decay in your tooth.

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