Novato Family Dentist Describes Methods for a Stress-Free Root Canal

Written by Dr. McConnell on Jul 28, 2014

Root canals have gained a bad reputation over the years as being difficult, complicated, and painful. But we have good news – root canals at the Novato Family Dentist office are truly efficient, comfortable, and stress free.

The negative reaction that many people have to the idea of having a root canal may have to do with a misunderstanding of the procedure, or dental anxiety in general. But sedation options and advances in dental technology available today, allow us to perform the procedure quickly and comfortable.

Why do I Need a Root Canal?

If a tooth starts to decay and is not treated, it can eventually penetrate into the root canal of the tooth. This is the space inside the root of your tooth that holds pulp, nerves, and tissue. Usually the first sign of root canal infection is severe pain and discomfort. Once the root canal becomes infected by decay, a root canal is necessary to save the tooth.

What Does a Root Canal Involve?

Root canal therapy is necessary to completely remove any infected material from inside your tooth. We start by numbing the area to be treated so that you feel no discomfort. The Novato dentist then makes a very tiny hole in the back of your tooth. This provides access to the inner portion of your tooth so that the infected material can be removed completely.

Once the infection is removed, the inside of the root canal is thoroughly cleansed. The tooth is then sealed and filled for protection. It may be necessary to place a dental crown over the tooth to protect and strengthen it.

How Does Sedation Dentistry Help?

We understand that root canals can cause anxiety for many people. Sedation can be very helpful in dealing with this fear, and our team is trained to use different sedation methods to help you relax during the procedure. One option is nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas) that will help you feel very calm while we are treating your tooth.

If you have a higher level of anxiety, we can prescribe an oral medication to be taken before you arrive at our office. With sedation dentistry, many patients feel no discomfort, and have little or no memory of the procedure at all.

Please Contact Our Office for More Information

The team at our Novato Family Dentist office understands that you may be anxious about having a root canal. But it is very important that you get immediate care or you risk losing the tooth. Please contact our office so that we can answer your questions and provide the treatment you need.