Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Let’s be honest – root canal treatments don’t have the best reputation in terms of patient comfort. In fact, some people will even use a root canal as a comparison to something else uncomfortable or undesirable, saying sarcastically that something is about as fun as a root canal. But here’s the thing – it’s not that bad! Early root canal treatments may have been rather unpleasant, but in the world of modern dentistry, this is a procedure that will provide minimal discomfort to the patient and can lead to significant pain relief in the end.
So, what is it that will lead a patient to need a root canal treatment1? There are a variety of possibilities, and we are going to cover some of them below. If you have any questions or would like to schedule your first appointment, please call Spokane Dental right away.
Put Pain to Rest
The main motivation for having a root canal treatment completed is likely to be as simple as trying to put an end to the pain and discomfort that you have been experiencing. It’s no fun to be in pain day after day, and the kind of pain that can come from root canal issues is particularly troublesome. If you have been living with this pain for some time and you are tired of doing so, opt for root canal treatment to finally move on.
It’s important to note that having your pain reduced or eliminated by a root canal treatment doesn’t mean you have to suffer greatly while in the dental chair. In fact, thanks to the many advancements of modern dentistry, having a root canal treatment is not a particularly uncomfortable experience in most cases. Anesthesia will be used to numb the appropriate area in order to keep you comfortable while the work is done, and the recovery from the procedure is not particularly drawn out. In all, this is a great way to reduce the pain that you have been enduring, and you won’t have to suffer through a brutal procedure to reach that outcome.
Retain Your Natural Tooth
Another advantage of going through a root canal treatment is the fact that you should be able to maintain your natural tooth over the long run. If you are a candidate for a root canal, you already have pulp in that canal which is either inflamed or infected. That means, if you don’t choose to have a root canal treatment, there is a good chance you’ll need to have the tooth extracted at some point. Not only does that mean you’ll be without that tooth and you will have to consider options like implants or dentures.
Don’t be scared off by the words ‘root canal’, when the reality is that this procedure is now quite comfortable and easily completed. In fact, you will likely experience more pain if you go ahead with an extraction down the line instead of the root canal. Saving your natural tooth is the best outcome here, as you can avoid the additional treatment that is required to replace that tooth. Keeping your tooth in place has functional and visual benefits, so give yourself every opportunity to arrive at this outcome.
A Modest Price Tag
It’s tempting to think that having a root canal treatment completed is going to be too expensive, but that doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, there is a good chance that your treatment will be covered by dental insurance, as this is a common procedure that is included in many plans. Rather than just assuming this – or any other treatment – will come at a high price, it’s better to get all the information you need to make a decision. Ask about the financial side of this procedure and you’ll likely find that it is well within reach.
Protect Surrounding Teeth
By having your root canal treatment completed, you can do the teeth surrounding the area a favor, as well. It’s important to keep each of your teeth as healthy as possible, and no tooth is healthy when it has inflamed or infected pulp lurking in the root canal. By addressing this issue as soon as possible, and having that pulp removed, you’ll be improving the health of your tooth as well as the others in the area.
Save Your Valuable Time
In addition to concerns about how much the procedure will hurt or how much it will cost, some patients put off root canal treatment because of how much time they perceive it will take. Again, this is where perception does not match up with reality. In most cases, you won’t need to make an endless number of trips to the dental office, and you won’t need to spend an extended amount of time at home recovering from the procedure. Instead, you may have this all wrapped up in just a couple of visits – depending on the specifics of your case, of course.
When you start to look closely at what a root canal treatment can offer, and what it entails, it becomes clear that the positives far outweigh the negatives. Sure, it’s not exactly fun to go through a dental procedure, but the experience of a root canal treatment just doesn’t match up with the reputation that exists in the minds of many. As long as you work closely with your dentist from the start to plan this treatment and get answers to any questions you may have, this should be a positive experience from start to finish.
At Spokane Dental, we are fully committed to providing each individual patient with exactly what he or she needs to enjoy good oral health. That may be a root canal, or it may be some other kind of dental procedure. The only way to know what kind of treatment or treatments will be right for you is to come in for an exam, so give us a call to make an appointment2 right away. We would be proud to serve you!
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Contributed by DentalROI
DentalROI provides relevant dental content to help providers educate patients. The statements, services, and products referenced in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and they are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dental provider with any questions or issues you may have. Specific recommendations may vary in different circumstances, so individual consultation is important.
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