It’s Time To Change How You Think About Root Canals
If someone said, “You need a root canal,” to you, what would come to mind?
Pain? Anxiety? Fear? Dread?
You might associate any or all of those things with root canals depending on how old you are, what stories you may have heard from other people, or even what movies you’ve watched.
At Galleria of Smiles, we want you to think differently about root canal treatments. We offer pain-free, anxiety-free root canals.
Are Root Canal Treatments Painful?
No, they shouldn’t be, at least not at a modern dental practice like Galleria of Smiles. If anything, your root canal should end the pain of having an infected tooth.
We have a variety of ways to prevent you from feeling any pain during your procedure. By talking to us about this, we can figure out which is the best option for you.
At a minimum, we will provide you with a local anesthetic. This will numb your infected tooth as well as the nearby tissue so you won’t feel anything during the procedure.
Many patients prefer something a little stronger, however, which is why we also offer three levels of dental sedation. Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation all have the benefits of keeping you pain-free throughout the root canal procedure.
Before you have your root canal, you may notice pain as a result of your infected tooth. This happens because bacteria has reached the pulp, a connective tissue at the center of the tooth. This can cause your pulp to become inflamed, which can put pressure on the nerves in your tooth. The infection also can increase sensitivity to things like hot drinks, cold foods, and sweets.
Again, by getting a root canal treatment, you will be removing the infection from your tooth and doing something that will end your pain.
Sedation For Worry-Free Root Canals
The pain-blocking power of sedation dentistry is important, but that’s only one reason many patients prefer it for procedures like root canals.
When you use dental sedation, you aren’t just blocking out the pain. It also can help you feel calm and relaxed before and during the treatment. Here’s a brief overview of what you could expect with each kind of sedation.
Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” has been used by dentists for more than 150 years. Today, we have an excellent understanding of how to use this gas. All you have to do is breathe normally, and the gas will do its work. In a matter of minutes, you’ll feel its effects as a calming sensation comes over you.
This will keep you pain-free and worry-free until your treatment is finished. Then, we turn the gas off. You exhale the gas that remains in your system, and you go back to feeling like yourself — only without an infected tooth.
Oral sedation is stronger so its effects last longer. You will take a single dose of medication before your root canal starts. After we know it has taken effect, we will perform the procedure to remove the infection and restore your tooth.
Since these effects can take a few hours to wear off, you will need a family member or friend to take you home to rest.
IV sedation is our strongest sedation option. We are one of the few dentist offices that have completed the necessary training to be able to offer this for our patients.
Like “laughing gas,” IV sedation works quickly and can be adjusted as needed during the procedure. Yet, it’s also a stronger form of sedation, so its effects can last for hours after the treatment is complete. As with oral sedation, you will need someone else to take you home if you choose this option.
Ask Us Your Questions About Root Canals
At Galleria of Smiles, you may be surprised at how pleasant a root canal treatment can be. If you have any questions about this procedure, or if you want to schedule one, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
