Are you getting a root canal procedure? If you have questions about it, we have answers.
Sure, you’ve heard a lot of negative talk when it comes to getting a root canal, but our Kensington and Gaithersburg, MD, dentists, Drs. Kenneth and Edmond Woo and Dr. Ho Kai Wang, are here to give you the skinny on this common procedure to calm your nerves and help you realize that root canal therapy really isn’t anything to be scared of.
Q. What is a root canal?
A. The purpose of this endodontic procedure is to remove the dental pulp, or inside of the tooth, when it has become infected or damaged. Once the dental pulp has become damaged the only option is to get a root canal to remove it from the tooth. A root canal will save the tooth and prevent the need to have the tooth pulled in the future.
Q. Why is it necessary?
A. If you are dealing with dental pain, pain that wakes you up in the middle of the night, pain that makes it difficult to eat or tooth sensitivity to hot or cold then chances are pretty good that you’ll want to visit our Kensington and Gaithersburg general dentists. A toothache should never be ignored, as it’s your tooth’s only way of communicating that something is wrong. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then you may need a root canal.
Q. What is root canal therapy like?
A. We will first need to x-ray the tooth to determine the extent of the damage. Then a local anesthetic will be injected into the area to numb it. Once the tooth is numb we will make an opening at the crown of the tooth and then carefully remove the dental pulp. We will also need to clean out the inside of the tooth to remove bacteria, pus and other signs of infection.
Once the tooth is clean, we will need to fill the root canals with a special material to prevent another infection in the future. Once the tooth has been rebuilt we will decide whether a dental crown will need to be placed over the tooth.
Q. Will a root canal hurt?
A. Contrary to popular belief, getting root canal therapy won’t hurt. Those dealing with a damaged dental pulp are already experiencing pain. The point of this procedure is to eliminate the pain. Getting a root canal is really no more different than getting a dental filling.
Kenneth Woo, DSS And Associates in Kensington and Gaithersburg, MD, is always dedicated to protecting your smile. If you are experiencing a toothache or other symptoms that could indicate that you need a root canal, give us a call today.