Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal Treatment

You might feel a little nervous if your dentist informed you that you need a root canal treatment. However, there is no need for you to worry because this treatment is done to millions of people each year. Root canal procedure is a common procedure with very few risks involved. Most of the time, root canal treatments need more than one appointment. This is because the root canal treatment is done first, and restoration follows. You might have heard some scary things about this procedure, but these myths are very old and outdated. They even date back to the time when no anesthetics exist!

If you’re still a little anxious about this procedure, clarifying some information about the procedure might put you at ease. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about root canals and the answers behind them: 

Will I lose my teeth after a root canal treatment? 

For modern dentists, it is the last resort to extract a patient’s tooth, even if the tooth is decayed. This is because having a tooth extracted accelerates the degeneration of surrounding teeth. It may also lead the other healthy teeth in your mouth to become misaligned as they try to fill the gap. The likelihood of losing your teeth due to a root canal treatment is minimal unless the damage is too severe to be fixed. Rest assured, your dentist will do the best they can to save your tooth and avoid the process of extraction.

Are root canal treatments painful?

It is a rare occurrence for a root canal procedure to cause you pain. Your dentist will use an anesthetic to numb the tooth that needs treatment completely. This treatment is designed to alleviate and prevent pain in your tooth, and this procedure actually provides relief. Of course, there will be a certain amount of soreness and swelling once the anesthetic has worn off, but this is only natural. You will experience some after-treatment pain, but it should be mild and completely disappear within 1-3 weeks. 

Are root canal procedures treatments to failure? 

Thinking that root canal treatments are prone to failure is a common misconception. This has not been true for a very long time—since root canals were first developed. Currently, the rate of success for root canal treatments is at 85 to 90 percent. This is in regards to treatments which last a lifetime. Thus, your chances of having a lifelong successful root canal are very high.

Let us here, at Philip M. Tornatore, save your teeth with the help of Root Canal Treatment in Hicksville, NY. You can find us at 404 Jerusalem Ave., Hicksville, NY 11801. Call us to schedule an appointment.