4 Things You Need To Know About More Comfortable Root Canal Therapy

Save your tooth with a root canal

When you hear the term root canal, it likely has you cringing and looking the other way. And the fact is that you’re likely, not alone. Yet millions of people get root canals every year. And if you talk to someone who recently had it done, you may be surprised to find out that the experience was better than they thought. With modern advancements in dental technology, gone are the days of painful root canals that required you to take multiple days off work, swearing off food and people as you healed. Today, there is a more comfortable root canal option.

What is root canal therapy?

You may know you need a root canal if you’re experiencing one or more of the following signs or symptoms.

  • Severe pain while chewing or biting
  • Pimples on your gums
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Swollen or tender gums
  • Deep decay or darkening of the gums
  • A chipped or cracked tooth

Now that you know the signs you may need a root canal, let’s start with the basics to ensure we’re all on the same page regarding what root canal therapy is about in the first place. Sometimes the pulp inside a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. Root canal therapy removes the damaged tissue, cleans and disinfects the area, and seals it with a dental crown to prevent future problems. Treating the source of infection relieves the pain and saves the tooth from extraction. At Orchard Dental Associates, we use a Fotona laser for root canal treatments, which delivers a faster, more comfortable patient experience. 

Use of the Fotona laser helps dispel these root canal myths:

  • Root canal therapy will hurt
  • Root canal procedures require several appointments
  • The benefits of root canal therapy are short-lived
  • Tooth extraction is the easier (and less painful) alternative

And these are now myths because today’s approach to root canal therapy is more comfortable than ever.

Root canal therapy is more comfortable than ever.

If your tooth is infected and your dentist does not perform a root canal, the infection can cause an abscess, destruction of bone, and can even spread disease via your bloodstream. Thus, treatment is necessary. We’re not saying you will be hopping and skipping your way home after root canal therapy. You will still need to take some time to recover. But we promise that when the procedure is done with our dental laser, you’ll say, “Now that wasn’t so bad.”

1. Root Canal in One Visit

In severe situations in the past, root canals often required multiple visits. The dentist or dental assistant would medicate the inside of the tooth for a few weeks, and then the patient would return for a second appointment. This process lessened the risk of further infection. However, with the Fotona laser, five to six minutes of activation inside the canal achieves better results in less time. This saves patients from a return trip to the dentist’s chair.

2. Preserves More Tooth Structure

To maximize the shockwave produced by the laser, your dental team will take steps to minimize the canal preparation. The reduced root end preparation essentially “traps” the shockwave, leaving behind a stronger tooth. As a result, your tooth stands a better chance of standing up to future stress and trauma. 

3. Minimal to No Bleeding

Laser therapy provides perhaps one of the best benefits to patients, especially those with dental anxiety or a queasy stomach, because it results in little to no bleeding. Lasers do not require an incision and are gentler on the gum tissue. The laser can ablate rather than cut through your tissue, producing less trauma and faster healing.

4. Faster Recovery and Less Discomfort

You’re likely wondering, how long does a root canal take? Traditional root canals can require one or two appointments, but when the Fotona laser is used, it can be done in one 30- to 60-minute root canal procedure. It may take a bit longer if you require root canal therapy on a larger tooth with multiple roots. Though some recovery time will be needed after root canal therapy, there is far less discomfort when using a Fotona laser. The wounds from your root canal will heal faster, making recovery time faster too. This means less downtime so you can return to your regular activities.

Visit your family dentist near Corpus Christi, TX, to learn about the more comfortable approach to root canal therapy.

If you have a tooth infection and need root canal therapy, request a consultation or call our office at (361) 353-7760. We offer a gentler and more comfortable approach. And, with the Fotona laser, you can get back to your regular activities faster than ever. We look forward to helping you.

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