3 Encouraging Facts About Tooth-Saving Root Canals

Learning that you need a root canal might not feel like the best news. Actually, though, it’s a whole lot better than another diagnosis you could receive — namely, that your deeply infected tooth needs to be extracted.

With a root canal treatment, you can save an infected tooth. That means you can preserve your natural tooth even if it has serious problems right now, and you don’t need to worry about filling a gap in your smile. Plus, we offer this care right here at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

With root canals, Dr. Sujay Trivedi, Dr. Michael Westcott, and our team give you a way to preserve your tooth while getting rid of any discomfort, damage, and decay that’s undermining your oral health. If you’re dreading your upcoming root canal, here are three encouraging facts about this common dental procedure. 

1. Your root canal should be pain-free

People often think that a root canal is painful, but that’s just a myth. We use a local anesthetic to keep you completely comfortable while we remove the damaged portion of the inner tooth pulp, clear the infection, and save as much of the tooth as possible. 

When you leave your root canal appointment, the treated area will likely still be numb. As that numbness wears off, you might have some sensitivity to hot and cold or if you bite down on the treated tooth. Chewing on the other side of your mouth for a few days should help you avoid the vast majority of discomfort that can come with a root canal. 

2. Your tooth functions the same afterward

There’s a common misconception that a root canal kills the tooth, changing how it looks and works. In reality, the main objective of a root canal is to save as much of the tooth as possible. 

Plus, with proper care, your treated tooth should last just as long as your other natural teeth. And that brings us to our next encouraging fact. 

3. The tooth doesn’t require any special care

Taking care of your tooth after a root canal doesn’t require you to buy any specialized tools or learn any new oral care practices. Instead, you just need to brush and floss as recommended, and see our team for regular preventive care. 

To ensure that the tooth that had the root canal and your natural teeth work their best throughout the years, schedule teeth cleanings twice a year. You should be doing this anyway, so your root canal doesn’t mean you need any extra trips to our office on an ongoing basis. 

These are just a few encouraging facts about tooth-saving root canals. To learn more about root canal treatment or schedule one, contact us at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida. Give us a call at 561-556-1698 today, or use our online booking feature any time.