Information About Root Canals
Dentists perform approximately 15 million root canals every year according to the American Association of Endodontists. It's a very common endodontic treatment that helps patients preserve and strengthen their teeth. Patients who have severe dental decay are often recommended for root canal therapy as an alternative to extraction. Explore the details and benefits of getting a root canal with Thomas W. Kauffman, DDS, PC in Atlanta, GA.
Root Canal Fears
It's natural and normal to be a little anxious about having a root canal, but those fears will be assuaged by your dentist at your initial exam and consultation. Thanks to sedation dentistry, you won’t feel anything during the procedure. The area is thoroughly numbed first so that you can sit back and relax the rest of the appointment with your Alexandria dentist. Some patients are also worried about whether the procedure will work. It is estimated that root canal treatments have a success rate of 87 percent after 8-10 years according to a study conducted at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute.
Root Canal Benefits
As fearful as many patients are about root canal therapy, it is one of the most effective and beneficial dental procedures. It allows you to keep your original tooth, which is a good thing for a number of reasons. If the tooth is extracted, it leaves a gap in your smile and your other teeth can shift out of position. If you’ve been living with intense tooth pain, an emergency root canal by your Atlanta dentist is the best way to eliminate the pain you’ve been experiencing.
The Procedure
It may ease your mind to know what you should expect in advance of your root canal procedure. It normally takes one appointment (about one to two hours depending on the severity of the issue). After sedating you, the dentist makes an opening in the tooth so that the diseased pulp can be removed. When it is thoroughly clean, it is filled with a biocompatible compound called gutta percha. A crown will be designed to cover the tooth so that it can heal properly over the coming weeks.
Smile Again
If you haven’t been able to smile for a while due to a painfully decayed tooth, now’s the time to call a dentist for a root canal. Dr. Kauffman and his team in Atlanta, GA are committed to providing you with the assistance you need in a calm and caring environment.
Do you need a root canal?
Call our Atlanta, GA office today at (404) 524-1981 to schedule an appointment!