Root Canal

Root Canal: Do I need a root canal?

Dental infections are serious. Unfortunately, far too many people ignore their painful symptoms out of fear that the cure will be even more painful!

The reality is that this isn’t true at all, but root canal therapy still carries a bad reputation. This bad reputation is undeserved, however, because the root canal procedure itself doesn’t hurt and will help to resolve the pain that you are feeling from the infection.

We suspect that a lot of people associate the pain of the problem with the procedure designed to treat it. While we understand, we want to reassure you that your comfort and safety are our top priorities. The media often portrays dentists as mean or uncaring, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Your general dentists in Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Treasure Coast, and Fort Pierce, Drs. Seth and Dari Shapiro, are kind, compassionate people who care very deeply about their patients and their well-being.

So what is a root canal anyway?

Root canals are a therapy that treats infection in the pulp of your teeth. This part of your tooth houses the nerve and other live tissues, which is why an infection here is so painful. To treat the infection, we first use medication to numb the area, then we make a small hole in the tooth and use special instruments to completely clear out the infection. We also remove the nerve, which will help stop the pain. If needed, we will add an antibiotic medication before we fill the tooth and seal it. We often recommend a crown after root canal treatment because the tooth can become brittle.

Once the procedure is complete, you may experience some soreness for a couple days, but once your immune system gets the message that the problem is resolved, you will regain both comfort and function. You should never have to tolerate dental pain. If you are in pain or suspect you might have an infection, please call our office right away.