The decision about whether you should have a tooth pulled or have a root canal can be difficult. If you’re in pain, the decision-making process is even more complex because it’s hard to think clearly when you’re hurting.
At Le Dentistry & Associates, Dr. Phuong Le and Dr. Uyen Hoang recommend having a root canal in most cases. That’s because saving your tooth offers long-term benefits that you don’t get when you have it extracted.
Decay and damage
One of the most common reasons you’re likely to need a root canal is deep decay that can’t be treated. When decay reaches that point, you may experience pain, swelling, abscesses, discoloration, sensitivity, and other symptoms. You may be tempted to just have it removed, but a missing tooth can lead to other problems, such as your remaining teeth shifting or bone loss.
If you must have a tooth removed, we recommend getting dental implants. Implants prevent your other teeth from shifting and stimulate your jaw bone so that you don’t have bone loss.
However, you can avoid the need for an implant if you save your tooth with a root canal.
It’s really not as bad as you think
For some reason, root canals seem to have a worse reputation than most other dental procedures. But it’s not so bad.
Before anything else, our staff makes sure that you’re comfortable and your mouth is numb. Then we make a small hole in the affected tooth, remove the infected tissue, then place a crown over your tooth to protect it.
At Le Dentistry & Associates, your comfort is our priority along with your oral health and overall safety. You can expect some discomfort, but not intense pain. You’ll most likely find that ibuprofen works to relieve your symptoms, even if you’re very sensitive to pain.
Follow up is important, too
You may think of a root canal as a single procedure, but it actually takes two appointments. During the first, our staff removes the infected material, and at the second, about two weeks later, your permanent crown is placed over your tooth.
Your new crown protects the tooth you’ve saved by having a root canal, and allows you to get on with your life as normal. Once again, you can chew, bite, drink, and live without pain.
If you have questions about your oral health, and whether or not a root canal could be the best procedure for your situation, book an appointment at Le Dentistry & Associates today. It’s easy to book online, or you’re welcome to call 678-252-9881 and we’ll get you scheduled.