What You Might Not Have Known about Root Canals

Out of the more common dental treatments that patients receive, root canal therapy unfairly gets the worst rap. You might have heard someone compare a particularly unpleasant life event as preferable to getting a root canal, but root canal therapy isn’t what most people make it out to be.

Root Canals Restore Your Oral Health – When you have an infected or damaged tooth, a root canal removes affected material and prevents the spread of infection and decay to other, healthy teeth.

Getting a Root Canal is Painless - Contrary to popular belief, getting a root canal is a comfortable procedure. Before beginning treatment, Dr. Carr thoroughly numbs the area around your tooth to ensure that you don’t experience any discomfort. Many patients equate the root canal process to the routine procedure of getting a cavity filled.

With a Root Canal, You Avoid Tooth Extraction – For some patients, teeth that are damaged or infected need to be removed entirely to prevent damage to healthy teeth – and choosing the best way to replace an extracted tooth comes with its own set of problems. If you get a root canal before it’s too late, the procedure actually allows you to keep your natural tooth. By removing the infected material from inside your tooth, your natural tooth structure is preserved and can remain in place.

Here’s What Actually Happens During a Root Canal:

Dr. Carr accesses the dentin (the material inside your tooth) via a small hole he’ll create in the tooth enamel. The infected dentin is removed and your tooth is filled with a kind of dental cement that helps your now decay-free tooth stay strong.

Treatment is complete when Dr. Carr places a custom-made dental crown over your tooth so your smile looks healthy and free of damage.

Do you have an infected tooth? Have you been putting off treatment because you’re worried that you might need a root canal? Dr. Carr offers root canal therapy in Temecula and Hemet to help you restore your oral health and keep your natural teeth. Contact us today if you have a tooth ache or a damaged and sensitive tooth, as these issues may need to be addressed with root canal therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is an excellent way of helping anxious patients relax and feel at-ease while in the dental chair. There are a few different ways to receive dental sedation that makes it easy for even the most fearful patient to get the dental treatment they need. When discussing dental sedation with his Temecula and Hemet patients, Dr. Carr often hears people ask:

What will I remember? When recovered from sedation, you likely won’t remember much about your appointment, such as sounds and smells. This is especially comforting for patients whose anxiety is triggered by the sound that some dental equipment produces. Different sedation methods can create deeper levels of this amnesia.

How long will it take to recover from sedation? IV sedation, nitrous oxide, and oral sedation all take different lengths of recovery time. IV sedation is most commonly used in specialists’ offices for short treatment. If you choose oral conscious sedation or IV sedation, you’ll need someone to take you home from your appointment; oral medications for sedation have varying half-lives (how long they remain in your system) and IV sedation can make you feel groggy for a while after you come-to. Recovery from nitrous, however, is fairly quick, especially if you are put on oxygen afterwards.

Which sedation method should I choose? This can depend on many factors, such as what treatment is being performed and your anxiety level. The best way to find out what sedation medication will work best for you is to talk to Dr.Carr about your concerns and your treatment plan.

Sedation dentistry makes getting dental treatment comfortable and quick for patients who are fearful about visiting a dentist’s office. To get more information about sedation dentistry in Temecula and Hemet, Call Dr. Carr’s offices to schedule your consultation.